The Gateways Music Festival is getting ready for its Carnegie Hall debut.
That annual festival, which features classical musicians of African descent, will include a performance this coming Sunday before a sold-out crowd at Carnegie Hall.
The festival has been based in Rochester since 1995.
Gateways is being led this year by Anthony Parnther, a conductor and bassoonist based in Los Angeles.
Appearing on the WXXI Classical Backstage Pass program Wednesday during a rehearsal at Kodak Hall, Parnther talked to WXXI's Julia Figueras about the joy of making music with this group of musicians.
“A lot of these musicians over the years I always see in passing, but to spend an entire week with all of us united to make music and share beauty is a really magical thing,” said Parnther.
Parnther took over as conductor after long time music director Michael Morgan died last August.
Gateways concertmaster Kelly Hall-Tompkins talked about Morgan’s legacy.
“He brought this orchestra together in such a high level of artistry, but I think he really crafted the Gateways festival to the world class organization and orchestra that it is today,” said Hall-Tompkins.
Gateways principle oboe, Titus Underwood, noted how Black history and experience is a vital part of American classical music.
"This is an American orchestra and we’re playing American music; we’re playing George Walker, we’re playing Florence Price," said Underwood. The Juba dance literally was made on a plantation. The American culture of orchestral playing has to come through that 'through-line' of Black culture to truly call itself an American orchestra."
The concert featuring the Gateways Orchestra at Carnegie Hall will be broadcast live on WXXI Classical starting at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday and it will also stream live at wxxiclassical.org
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