Why are [British] Orchestras so White? 3 Months ago
An interesting feature in the 14th September edition of the UK's Observer newspaper looks at the minuscule number of non-white members of UK orchestras: http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2008/sep/14/music.classicalmusicandopera
Given that musicians perform behind a screen at many auditions, the culprit isn't outright racism, says the paper, but a lack of exposure and opportunity. All roads lead to Venezuela's El Sistema these days, and this piece is no different. In other words, put instruments into the hands of kids who are unlikely to be exposed to classical playing and responses can range from engendering a little hope to nourishing genius.
That's a lesson the UK government are apparently taking to heart with the announcement a few weeks back of plans to launch a local version of El Sistema. The cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, a fierce critic of elitism in classical music, is its spokesperson.
The US takes a different approach with groups such as the Sphinx Organization (http://www.sphinxmusic.org/about/vision.html), a non-profit that undertakes a range of activities, from making instruments available to minority musicians to running the Sphinx Competition, for young black and Latino stringed instrument players.
Given that musicians perform behind a screen at many auditions, the culprit isn't outright racism, says the paper, but a lack of exposure and opportunity. All roads lead to Venezuela's El Sistema these days, and this piece is no different. In other words, put instruments into the hands of kids who are unlikely to be exposed to classical playing and responses can range from engendering a little hope to nourishing genius.
That's a lesson the UK government are apparently taking to heart with the announcement a few weeks back of plans to launch a local version of El Sistema. The cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, a fierce critic of elitism in classical music, is its spokesperson.
The US takes a different approach with groups such as the Sphinx Organization (http://www.sphinxmusic.org/about/vision.html), a non-profit that undertakes a range of activities, from making instruments available to minority musicians to running the Sphinx Competition, for young black and Latino stringed instrument players.
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