GR Symphony Improves Diversity GRAND RAPIDS, MI (Michigan Radio) - The Grand Rapids Symphony is trying to expand its audiences to reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the larger community. Their challenge is to overcome stereotypes about classical music and who listens to it.

Joseph Conyers practices on his upright bass backstage at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids.

The Georgia native is in his third season with the Grand Rapids symphony.

He is also one of two African-American musicians with the orchestra.

Conyers - who is a distant cousin of Democratic Congressman John Conyers - smiles when asked what he thinks about being a novelty.

"It's neat. I always joke when people see me, do you play in the symphony? Don't get that too often. It's neat and unique at the same time, but I never think of myself as different or special or on the outside."

In fact, being one of only a few African-Americans in a professional classical music orchestra is not all that unusual for Conyers.

He says African-Americans make up less than four percent of orchestra personnel nationwide.

Conyers says it's mainly an issue of exposure. He says he like so many African-Americans grew up on a strong gospel tradition.

But few have had that same introduction to classical music.

And he says it's been viewed as music as something for the elite.

"The biggest thing is the social stigma, behind classical symphony orchestras If we can find a way to erase the gap from seeing it as a higher-class thing, if that was the case, I wouldn't be involved. It's music, it's a voice."

One way to encourage more African-American and Latino young people to aspire to careers in classical music is through the Sphinx Competition in Detroit.

The annual competition attracts talent from around the country and allows the musicians to see and play with others, who as Conyers says, "look like him."

The 26-year old is himself an alumnus of the event.

David Lockington is the music director of the Grand Rapids symphony.

He says the orchestra has always had what he calls a 'traditional' audience, tied to certain income and education levels.

But orchestras around the country are struggling and have turned their efforts to marketing to new audiences.

The Grand Rapids symphony is still trying to recover from a low point in 2001.

But Lockington says financial survival is not the only motivation for diversifying the audience and performers.

He says appreciation for classical music should be open to all.

"What we're trying to do is deepen that awareness of our music to break into other cultures so that they can see the value of our music and come to our concerts so they can enjoy a broader range of entertainment."

Several years ago, Lockington and the administration started asking themselves how they could increase their audience diversity.

That meant everything to increasing racial minority representation on its board to reaching out to African-American ministers and seeking their input.

Symphony President Melia Tourangeau says they're making progress.

"Bridging the relationships has been the probably the greatest challenge in Grand Rapids. And we've really started to make inroads."

One indication could be the annual Celebration of Soul dinner and concert event.

It's a fundraiser that celebrates African-American leaders in the community and raises money for music lessons for its "Young, Gifted and Black" program.

Two years ago the first dinner broke even. This year it raised more than $80,000.

The concert includes gospel music with the Grand Rapids Community Gospel Choir and the works of African-American composers like Duke Ellington.

A sea of diverse faces sat in the audience at this year's concert.

Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk is a music writer for the Grand Rapids Press.

He says the Symphony of Soul concert is a way to bring audiences down to the concert hall that may be unfamiliar with it.

"And if you can bring them once, you can bring them again, after awhile they feel comfortable with it, they know what it is, it's part of their perception of their community."

Tonia Williams is exactly the kind of new audience member the symphony is trying to attract.

She doesn't regularly attend the concerts but was excited to see the performance and the special guest Take 6.

And did she know of the symphony's African-American bass player?

"Oh yes, I can pick them all out, there's two I can see up there, I picked them out."

This year Grand Rapids is one of 13 orchestras across the country commissioning a work by an African-American or Latino composer.

It's also promoting a strong season of diverse guest artists.

Tonia Williams says she'd like to bring her kids some day.

But she hopes the orchestra will keep up their efforts to reach out to people like her.

E-mail: Kaomi-at-umich-dot-edu


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