Amplifying Voices
Amplifying Voices fosters collaboration and collective action between US orchestras and composers toward racial and gender equity in classical music.
Fostering collaboration toward racial and gender equity.
With over forty-five orchestras in the US and beyond to soon be a part of the program’s eleven consortia, Amplifying Voices facilitates co-commissions and sharing of existing repertoire by BIPOC and women composers. This long-term program aims to increase the support and promotion of under-represented composers, create space for their contributions to artistic-planning at major national orchestras, and make major strides toward transforming the classical canon for future generations.
The program was kick-started by The Sphinx Organization through a generous contribution from the Sphinx Venture Fund, and increasing momentum has made possible by new funding from the Sorel Organization, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, and industry partners ASCAP and Wise Music, which demonstrates recognition amongst orchestras that new and inclusive approaches to programming are critical for the sector’s future relevance.
Support from the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation will create two new consortia commissioning Katherine Balch and Clarice Assad. Previous support from the Sorel Organization has contributed to two consortia which are commissioning Jessie Montgomery and Nina Shekhar. ASCAP and Wise Music will support the Amplifying Voices Learning Lab, facilitating conversations with composers, orchestras, and industry guests. Anticipated focal points include best approaches to co-commissioning, centering existent repertoire by BIPOC and women composers, and enabling audiences around the country to discover the most exciting music of our time.
Read the latest news on program premieres and performances here.
Amplifying Voices Consortium
The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
New York Philharmonic & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Las Vegas Philharmonic
Oregon Symphony
Arkansas Symphony
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Berkeley Symphony
YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles)
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Partner Orchestras
More To Be Announced Soon
Why This Initiative is Needed
Deceased white males comprised over two thirds of the works programmed in the 2021-22 season (Composer Diversity Institute, 2022)
Only 21.8% of music programed by orchestras was by a living composer (Composer Diversity Institute, 2022)
Only 22.5% of programmed works are by women composers and composers of color (Composer Diversity Institute, 2022)
Program Media
News and Resources
Funding Partners
Amplifying Voices is powered by the Sphinx Venture Fund, with additional support from ASCAP, the Sorel Organization, the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, and the Wise Music and The Wise Family Charitable Foundation.