Gateways Music Festival in association with Eastman School of Music, of the University of Rochester, celebrates the transformative power of Black classical artistry with its Spring Festival 2025 in Rochester April 21 through 24. This exciting lineup of performances features the excellence of professional Black classical artists.
Spring Festival 2025 welcomes conductor Anthony Parnther and the Gateways Festival Orchestra back to Kodak Hall on Thursday, April 24, for a program which complements folk-inspired symphonies by Antonín Dvorák and William Levi Dawson with the world premiere of a new Gateways commission from Damien Sneed, featuring mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges. More festival highlights include solo recitals by violinist Curtis Stewart ’08E, ’08 (April 22) and pianist Rochelle Sennet (April 21); the Paul J. Burgett Lecture and Community Conversation with Dr. Louise Toppin (University of Michigan) exploring Dawson’s legacy (April 23); and a performance by the Gateways Brass Collective at WXXI’s Live from Hochstein series (April 23).
“Gateways isn’t just a festival – it’s a home. A place where Black classical musicians bring their full selves to the stage, and where audiences can come together to listen, connect, and celebrate” said Gateways Music Festival President & Artistic Director, Alex Laing “This April, we invite Rochester to come out, see world class artists, and be part of a cultural moment. Whether it’s your first festival, or you never miss one, if classical music has been part of your life for decades or you’re experiencing it for the first time, Gateways Spring Festival promises to challenge, inspire, and uplift.”
Recently supported with a million-dollar grant from the Mellon Foundation, Gateways’ rich offerings are set to make a profound and lasting impact on the classical music landscape. Through its work, Gateways provides a supportive community and a joyful home for professional Black classical artists, shaping its own narrative in classical music and bringing people of all backgrounds and ages together to celebrate the living tradition of Black classical artistry.
Visit https://www.gatewaysmusicfestival.org/spring-festival-2025 for additional information and to purchase tickets.
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