Black Orchestral Network

04/01/2026

03/31/2026

We celebrate Sophia Jean, Marlène Ngalissamy, and Joshua Elmore on receiving tenure in their respective orchestras.

Moments like this matter. We’re proud to recognize their artistry, dedication, and this significant milestone.

🖤

03/31/2026

BON was delighted to co-sponsor with the Gateways Music Festival several technique clinics for HBCU music majors and minors at last week’s HBCU National Band and Orchestra Directors’ Consortium.

We’re proud to invest in and support young HBCU musicians through direct connection, mentorship, and shared learning.

BON's HBCU Masterclass Series is supported by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation.

03/26/2026

“I feel her presence.”

J’Nai Bridges reflects on the artists who came before her — Marian Anderson, Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price — and the legacy she carries with her on every stage.

This moment is about honoring the people who made this work possible.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Black Music Seen (Youtube + Wherever you get your podcasts)
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See J’Nai Bridges take the stage as Elizabeth Proctor in Washington National Opera’s The Crucible.
📍 Lisner Auditorium
Fri, March 27 at 7pm
Sun, March 29 at 2pm
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Black Music Seen is a living archive dedicated to preserving the stories of Black classical musicians — honoring those who carried the culture and those shaping what comes next.

03/24/2026

GRAMMY Award-winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges joins Black Music Seen for a conversation rooted in discipline, clarity, and self-definition.
From the AME church choir to the world’s leading opera stages, she reflects on the work behind her voice — and the boundaries, preparation, and purpose that sustain a life in music.

This episode is about what it means to be grounded in who you are, and to build a career that aligns with that truth.

🎧 Available to stream March 26
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Catch J’Nai Bridges as Elizabeth Proctor in Washington National Opera’s The Crucible
📍 Lisner Auditorium
Wed, March 25 at 7pm
Fri, March 27 at 7pm
Sun, March 29 at 2pm
—
🎙️Black Music Seen is a living archive dedicated to preserving the stories of Black classical musicians — honoring those who carried the culture and those shaping what comes next.

03/24/2026

Three conductors. Our virtual stage.

They’re owning the podium. We’re here for it.

Join us for a conversation on leadership, visibility, and life on the podium.

📅 Monday, March 30
🕢 7:30 PM ET
🎟️ Free | RSVP via link in comments or stories

Hosted by BON’s Lexi Holloway

03/21/2026

Respecting Black composers means protecting the integrity of their work, not reshaping it to fit institutional taste.

Thoughts 🤔

Flattery or forgery? Row erupts over Vienna Phil’s re-orchestration of a Florence Price piece

🔗 in comments

Inclusion of first Black woman in US to write a symphony in Vienna’s New Year’s Day concert was a long overdue recognition. But how much of her music was actually played?

03/20/2026

We are proud to congratulate Cleveland Chandler on his recent appointment to the New Mexico Philharmonic.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Cleveland brings a remarkable breadth of experience to this role. He served for 24 years as a violinist with the United States Air Force Strolling Strings and holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

A dedicated educator, Cleveland has taught at the Ottley Music School, the Baltimore School for the Arts TWIGS Program, and the Washington Conservatory of Music. He is also a frequent performer with the Gateways Music Festival, contributing to a vibrant community of artists shaping the field.

This milestone reflects a lifetime of artistry, service, and commitment to the field.

03/13/2026

The Black Orchestral Network mourns the passing of conductor Willie Anthony Waters, a pioneering figure in the world of opera and orchestral music. Over the course of his distinguished career, he became the first Black Artistic Director of a major U.S. opera company and served as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Florida Grand Opera, Houston Ebony Opera Guild, and Connecticut Opera.

Read more about his life and legacy here: The Violin Channel
https://theviolinchannel.com/american-opera-conductor-willie-anthony-waters-has-died-aged-74/

03/13/2026

Last week, BON’s Jennifer Arnold had the pleasure of leading a violin masterclass at Spelman College, working with outstanding students Payton Everett and Isabella Vesprini from the violin studio of our friend Dr. Tami Lee Hughes.

During the visit, Jennifer also had the opportunity to join the viola section of the AUCSO Orchestra, directed by Dr. Alvoy Bryan. The ensemble brings together music majors, minors, and students who wish to continue performing with peers from Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College to explore orchestral repertoire including works by Florence Price, Richard Smallwood, Johannes Brahms, and more.

We are grateful to Dr. Hyunjung Rachel Chung, Chair of the Music Department at Spelman College, for helping make this collaboration possible.

BON’s HBCU Masterclass Series is made possible by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation.

03/12/2026

The story of Black classical music is still being written.

In this episode of Black Music Seen, we speak with members of D-Composed, a Chicago-based chamber collective dedicated to celebrating Black creativity and culture through music.

🎻 Caitlin Edwards
🎻 Tahirah Whittington
🎻 Khelsey Zarraga
🎻 Wilfred Farquharson

For nearly a decade, D-Composed has created programs that highlight Black composers while expanding what a chamber music experience can look and feel like.

Through collaborations with poets, storytellers, and community artists, they are building spaces where music becomes a place for reflection, connection, and cultural expression.

🎧 Click the link in our bio to listen to the conversation. (Or check out today’s stories!)

🎙️Produced by David Norville






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