Equity Arc

Creating a level playing field in classical music

Equity Arc (formerly known as NIMAN) works as a connector, convener, and facilitator for music organizations and BIPOC instrumentalists, and is designed to support all stages of the musical journey. Historically, musicians of color have been underrepresented in classical music, and it is essential to confront why this lack of diversity exists. Equity Arc seeks to dismantle the structural inequitie

s and biases to create a level playing field, empowering aspiring musicians to achieve success. Our multi-dimensional approach provides specialized mentoring support for BIPOC musicians and helps institutions take meaningful steps toward equity and inclusion. Equity Arc is the culmination of years of planning, meeting, and a multi-day convening to form the association that strengthens the trajectory of classical instrumentalists of color throughout the United States. It is our goal to build equity in classical music and reestablish the vibrancy of our field by empowering underrepresented musicians in their pursuit of musical excellence.

05/27/2026

We loved hearing Seth and the rest of the fellow panelists speak about about perseverance, resilience, and the importance of mentorship during the Equity Arc Fellow Panel earlier this month! They spoke deeply about their lived experiences and what it takes to become a successful musician.

➡️ Watch the full panel at https://ow.ly/Uc7C50Z4SkM

05/15/2026

🎵 Concert Day
Sunday, May 3: the day everyone was waiting for! Convening attendees, fellows, faculty, and Equity Arc supporters gathered at Capital One Hall for a deeply moving and impactful closing Keynote Address by acclaimed public interest lawyer Bryan Stevenson. His powerful words grounded the weekend's themes of resilience and hope and left a lasting impression upon the audience.

Fellows took the stage at 2pm to showcase their artistry and hard work. The Wind Symphony performed an exciting program of works by Ryan George, Viet Cuong, Florence Price, James Lee III, and Carlos Simon. The Pathways Orchestra closed the festival with works by Antonin Dvorak, Jessie Montgomery, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

"My Festival Ensemble experience has been one I can never forget. Attending this festival has taught me the importance of connecting with other musicians with similar backgrounds and that those relationships will last a lifetime. It has given me a taste of what beautiful music-making feels like and the work it takes to produce a meaningful product. This festival continues to renew my love and drive of being a professional musician." - Kevin Porter, double bass, Pathways Orchestra

📷 Melissa Taylor

05/14/2026

Saturday, May 2 Recap ⏪
Day 2 of the National Convening brought deep, intentional conversations about mentorship and the support musicians need to navigate the field. The variety of backgrounds, from administrators to parents of young musicians, provided perspectives and discussion from voices across the musical ecosystem.

Fellows spent the day at Capital One Hall in sectionals, rehearsals, and faculty panels. The day wrapped up with the College and Summer Study Fair, where fellows were able to connect with collegiate and summer study programs!

📷 Melissa Taylor

05/13/2026

Friday ➡️
May 1 was jam-packed with activities for our fellows and kicked off the National Convening!
Fellows had morning and evening rehearsals, a visit to Supreme Court, breakout conversations, and the fellow panel!

The National Convening events began with the fellow panel, "From Talent to Tenacity," and an impactful keynote address from composer and pianist Gabriela Lena Frank. Attendees left buzzing with excitement for the next day's events!

📷 Melissa Taylor

05/12/2026

Thursday Recap ⏪
Our fellows arrived to Tysons, VA on Thursday, April 30 to begin their Festival Ensembles residency! We held a welcome session and social gathering for fellows and faculty to mingle and get to know each other. We love seeing all the smiling faces!

📷 Melissa Taylor

05/04/2026

Wow. What a weekend! We are so grateful for the hard work of our fellows, who put on exceptional performances at Capital One Hall! We are also grateful for the intentional conversations from our network of administrators, faculty, musicians, parents, and supporters through our National Convening sessions. We are excited for the future! ⭐️

05/02/2026

🥁 You can hear this outstanding percussion section perform TOMORROW at Capital One Hall!
The Equity Arc Wind Symphony percussion fellows have been hard at work in rehearsals for the past two days. Check out what they were looking forward to most about this residency experience!

🎟️ Grab your ticket for the Equity Arc Festival Concert at https://ow.ly/U1xT50YT4cA

05/01/2026

⭐ Today we are featuring bass fellow Soley!
Soley is looking forward to connecting with other musicians of color and playing intense music while in residency with the Equity Arc Wind Symphony.

We can't wait to hear Soley perform THIS SUNDAY! Grab your ticket for the Equity Arc Festival Concert at https://ow.ly/AiEW50YT44k

04/30/2026

"What are you looking forward to most about being a part of the Equity Arc Wind Symphony?"
🎵 Check out what tuba fellow Luke Fu has to say!

We can't wait to hear Luke perform this Sunday, May 3 at Capital One Hall!
🎟️ Grab your ticket for the Equity Arc Festival Concert at https://ow.ly/gg2z50YSfw9

04/29/2026

🎵 Get to know Sullivan Tucker, euphonium fellow for the Equity Arc Wind Symphony!
Sullivan is looking forward to collaborating with a diverse group of artists and learning from world-class faculty. We can't wait to hear him perform at Capital One Hall this Sunday, May 3!

🎟️ Grab your ticket for the Equity Arc Festival Concert at https://ow.ly/b0H350YRwPF

Address

1241 Elm Street
Cincinnati, OH
45202

Website

https://equityarc.org/

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