A well-known local music festival is announcing a closer association with the Eastman School of Music.
The Gateways Music Festivalfocuses on increasing the visibility of classical musicians of African descent, and it has been working with the Eastman School for a number of years.
But now, both parties are taking this to another level, with Eastman to help support the administrative and leadership growth of the event. That will include hiring a full time president and artistic director, something that Eastman School Dean Jamal Rossi says is important if Gateways is to expand its efforts.
“It’s never been full time until now and we believe that the growth opportunity is great but it will require at least one person investing all of their energies,” Rossi told WXXI News.
The inaugural president and artistic director is Lee Koonce, who has served on the festival’s board since 1998.
Rossi says Gateways helps the Eastman school’s efforts to become more diverse among both students and staff.
“We want to have a strong student body of talented musicians and one that is very diverse. So, diverse in terms of styles, of values, but also racial and ethnic backgrounds and we think that is good for the future of classical music.”
Rossi says the aim is also to have Gateways be an annual event, instead of every two years as it is right now. The next festival is scheduled for August of next year.
Rossi says this festival is important not only to promote diversity in the classical music ranks overall, but also to help the Eastman School of Music attract a wide diversity of students and faculty.
