April 21–27: Week-long celebration of Black classical artistry in Rochester & NYC culminates with Gateways Festival Orchestra’s return to Carnegie Hall

(April 2025) — Next week, Gateways Music Festival in association with Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester celebrates the transformative power of Black classical artistry with Spring Festival 2025 in Rochester, NY (April 21–24) and New York City (April 24–27). At the heart of the festival is the Gateways Festival Orchestra, composed of Black professional musicians drawn from the nation’s leading orchestras and music faculties. Gateways’ back-to-back residencies culminate with finale concerts at Eastman’s Kodak Hall (April 24) and New York’s Carnegie Hall (April 27), marking the orchestra’s highly anticipated first return to the venue since its historic, sold-out debut in 2022. Led once again by conductor Anthony Parnther, this season’s finale program showcases the world premiere of a new Gateways commission from Damien Sneed, featuring mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges. Other festival highlights include performances by violinist Curtis Stewart (April 22 & 25), pianist Rochelle Sennet (April 21 & 26), and the Gateways Brass Collective (April 23), as well as inspiring talks, discussions, and educational initiatives (April 23 & 26).

Gateways Festival Orchestra at Eastman (April 24) & Carnegie Hall (April 27)

The Gateways Festival Orchestra presents its finale concerts under the baton of Anthony Parnther, “a conductor for the future” with “a flourishing career” (The New York Times). Celebrating the enduring power of folk traditions, with special focus on the legacy and influence of Negro spirituals, their program combines Antonín Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony and William Levi Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony with the world and New York City premieres of Reflections of Resilience: Five Spirituals, a new Gateways Music Festival commission from NAACP Image Award- and Sphinx Medal of Excellence-winning musical polymath Damien Sneed, featuring Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges. The Carnegie Hall concert will stream live to home audiences worldwide as part of WQXR’s Live from Carnegie Hall series. Members of Gateways Festival Orchestra also offer an immersive afternoon of masterclasses and mentorship to aspiring young performers at Gateways’ Spring 2025 Young Musicians Institute, hosted by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, the previous day (April 26).

Stewart (April 22 & 25), Sennet (April 21 & 26), & Gateways Brass Collective (April 23)

Spring Festival 2025 shines a light on the work of two important Black artists. Six-time Grammy-nominated violinist Curtis Stewart appears with the Gateways Chamber Orchestra at Eastman (April 22) and Merkin Hall (April 25), where he is a 2024-25 Artist-in-Residence. His program pairs Seasons of Change, his re-composition of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons as an Afrofuturist meditation on climate change, memory, and resilience, with the world and New York City premieres of his ambitious new project, American Caprices.

Rochelle Sennet, Professor of Piano at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, juxtaposes works by J.S. Bach with those of Black composers Joseph Bologne, James Lee III, Montague Ring (aka Amanda Aldridge), and Regina Harris Baiocchi in solo piano recitals at Eastman, as part of a season-long partnership with the school’s George Walker Center for Equity and Inclusion in Music (April 21), and at Harlem School of the Arts (April 26).

In addition, Gateways Brass Collective, the nation’s only all-Black professional brass quintet, performs at Rochester’s Hochstein Performance Hall as part of WXXI’s Live from Hochstein (April 23) and offers an inspiring afternoon of masterclasses, sectionals, and performance to young brass players at Harlem School of the Arts (April 24).

Celebrating Dawson’s legacy with talk, conversation, & song (April 23 & 26)

Gateways rounds out the Spring Festival with two enrichment events. Presented in collaboration with Tuskegee University and the Weill Institute, these both celebrate the legacy of pioneering composer, arranger, musicologist, and choral director William Levi Dawson. The 2025 Paul J. Burgett Lecture and Community Conversation at Eastman comprises a lecture by Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan); a panel discussion with Toppin, Dr. Wayne Barr (Tuskegee University), Dr. Yi Chang (Tuskegee University), and Dr. Cory Hunter (University of Rochester); and a recital of Dawson selections by soprano Amber Rogers, winner of the 2024 National Association of Negro Musicians’ Scholarship Competition. Gateways’ Burgett Symposium at the Resnick Education Wing of Carnegie Hall offers an expanded version of this event, As well as an additional lecture by Dr. Barr and Dr. Chang, the panel discussion will now include Damien Sneed and Christopher Jenkins, Associate Dean of Oberlin Conservatory (April 26).

Learn more about Gateways Music Festival here. Complete Spring Festival information is available here and high-resolution photos can be downloaded here.

Gateways Spring Festival 2025

April 21–24: Rochester, NY

Mon, April 21 at 7:30pm
Eastman School of Music
Hatch Recital Hall
Recital: Rochelle Sennet, piano
BOLOGNE, Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Adagio in F minor
J.S. BACH: Overture in the French Style, BWV 831
Regina Harris BAIOCCHI: Azuretta
RING (aka ALDRIDGE): Carnival: Suite of Five Dances
James LEE III: Souls of Alkebulan
(Presented in collaboration with George Walker Center for Equity and Inclusion)
Admission: $10-$15

Tues, April 22 at 7:30pm
Eastman School of Music
Hatch Recital Hall
Curtis Stewart, violin
Gateways Chamber Orchestra
Curtis STEWART: American Caprices (world premiere)
VIVALDI / Curtis STEWART: Seasons of Change
Admission: $20

Wed, April 23 at 12:15pm
Hochstein Performance Hall
Gateways Brass Collective: “Live at Hochstein”
Anthony DI LORENZO: Fire Dance
KAMEN: Quintet
Eric EWAZEN: Colchester Fantasy
PIAZZOLLA (arr. J.D. SHAW) Tango Apasionado Suite
CHICK COREA: Spain
DIZZY GILLESPIE: Manteca
Admission: Free with RSVP

Wed, April 23 at 7:00pm
Eastman School of Music
Hatch Recital Hall
Paul J. Burgett Lecture and Community Conversation:
Celebrating William Levi Dawson’s legacy with word, song, and conversation

Lecture: Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan)
Vocal performance: Amber Rogers, soprano
Community conversation:

Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan)
Dr. Wayne Barr (Tuskegee University)
Dr. Yi Chang (Tuskegee University)
Dr. Cory Hunter (University of Rochester)

(Presented in collaboration with William Levi Dawson Institute for Classical and Folk Music at Tuskegee University)
Admission: Free with RSVP

Thurs, April 24 at 7:30pm
Eastman School of Music
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Gateways Festival Orchestra / Anthony Parnther
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 8
Damien SNEED: Reflections of Resilience: Five Spirituals (world premiere of Gateways commission)
(with J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano)
DAWSON: Negro Folk Symphony
Admission: $20-$30

April 24–27: New York, NY

Thurs, April 24 at 4:00pm–6:00pm
Harlem School of the Arts
Gateways Brass Collective
Masterclasses, mentorship, and performance for students
Private Event

Fri, April 25 at 7:30pm
Merkin Hall
Curtis Stewart, violin (2024-25 Kaufman Music Center Artist-in-Residence)
Gateways Chamber Orchestra
Curtis STEWART: American Caprices (New York City premiere)
VIVALDI / Curtis STEWART: Seasons of Change
(Presented with Kaufman Music Center)
Admission: $30

Sat, April 26 at 10:00am–2:00pm
Carnegie Hall
Resnick Education Wing
Burgett Symposium
Celebrating William Levi Dawson’s legacy with word, song, and conversation

Presentation and Q&A: Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan)
Lecture: Dr. Wayne Barr (Tuskegee University); Dr. Yi Chang (Tuskegee University)
Mini recital: Amber Rogers, soprano; Dr. Yi Chang, piano
Panel discussion:

Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan)
Dr. Wayne Barr (Tuskegee University)
Dr. Yi Chang (Tuskegee University)
Damien Sneed (Howard University)
Christopher Jenkins (Oberlin Conservatory)

(Presented in collaboration with William Levi Dawson Institute for Classical and Folk Music at Tuskegee University)
Admission: Free with RSVP

April 26 at 3:00pm–5:00pm
Carnegie Hall
Weill Music Institute
Spring 2025 Young Musicians Institute: Masterclasses
Members of Gateways Festival Orchestra
Admission: By Invitation Only; apply here

Sat, April 26 at 7:30pm
Harlem School of the Arts
Recital: Rochelle Sennet, piano
BOLOGNE, Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Adagio in F minor
J.S. BACH: Overture in the French Style, BWV 831
Regina Harris BAIOCCHI: Azuretta
RING (aka ALDRIDGE): Carnival: Suite of Five Dances
James LEE III: Souls of Alkebulan
Admission: $10-$20

Sun, April 27 at 2:00pm
Carnegie Hall
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
Gateways Festival Orchestra / Anthony Parnther
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 8
Damien SNEED: Reflections of Resilience: Five Spirituals (New York City premiere of Gateways commission)
(with J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano)
DAWSON: Negro Folk Symphony
Admission: $23–$84