Black Orchestral Network

09/10/2026

We’re proud to celebrate BON Steering Committee and founding member Weston Sprott as he takes on the role of Executive Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center!

This appointment marks an incredible milestone in Weston’s career as a musician, educator, arts leader, and advocate. His leadership has made an impact across our industry, including right here at BON, as a founding member.

As Weston takes on this new position, he will be departing the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, where he has performed since 2005, while continuing his connection to The Juilliard School as a faculty member and his longstanding commitment to educating and supporting the next generation of musicians.

We are grateful for all that Weston has contributed to BON and thrilled that his leadership and voice will continue to be part of our community.

Congratulations, Weston, on this fantastic and well-deserved appointment! Let's GO!

Jazz at Lincoln Center today announced the appointment of Weston Sprott as the organization's new Executive Director, effective September 21. Weston succeeds Greg Scholl, who served as Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Executive Director for more than 14 years.

Weston brings an impressive record of accomplishment as an arts leader, educator, and administrator spanning two decades. His experience and values strongly align with Jazz at Lincoln Center’s mission and principles, and he brings strategic leadership, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine passion for fostering community through music to the organization.

Weston joins Jazz at Lincoln Center after a seven-year appointment as the Dean and Director of the Preparatory Division at The Juilliard School, where he oversaw both the Pre-College and Music Advancement Program. During his tenure, he helped dramatically expand access to music education, secured transformational philanthropic support, and championed initiatives that supported the creation of new music and opened new pathways for young musicians. Weston is also an accomplished classical trombonist and was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 2005 until taking on his new role.

Please join us in welcoming Weston to Jazz at Lincoln Center!

Photo courtesy of Weston Sprott

08/31/2026

What makes the BON Summit special? Hear it from the people who were in the room.

Last year’s Summit brought our community together for honest conversation, new connections, shared ideas, and a celebration of Black artistry across the orchestral industry.

This October, we’re coming together again in Atlanta.

More than a conference. A community.

Join us for the 2026 Black Orchestral Network Summit on Saturday, October 17 at Atlanta Music Project.

The BON Summit is open to everyone: musicians, administrators, educators, students, industry professionals, and allies who want to be part of the conversation and help shape the future of our orchestral industry.

Registration is now open, and there’s much more to come. Our full Summit agenda and panelist lineup drop next Monday.

Learn more and reserve your spot at https://www.blackorchestralnetwork.org/bon-2026-summit-1

08/27/2026

Audition season is upon us!

Whether you’re preparing for a professional orchestra, college, or youth orchestra audition, supporting musicians through the process, or simply curious about how auditions work, join us this Monday at 7:30 PM ET for BON’s August Community Conversation.

We’ll talk audition preparation, practice strategies, mindset, nerves, and what it takes to walk into audition day ready.

BON Community Conversations are free and open to everyone. Bring your questions, join the conversation, and stay for the whole session or pop in for a bit.

Register today! https://www.blackorchestralnetwork.org/bon-events/bu889kgdjcn1jw75fds6eqaty7zhvp-nbfyt-4a2l6-3wrz4-g427k-e5rh5-brkfz-f7sfw-aldy4-kgddh-26d4j-4smtb-nmzek-7axwt-9n8el-lb6k3-g8sk3-9zr5c-rkdap-zfkcl-bhdjf-w4dwf-2b7ly-blftr-t7dz3-n79bb-w4mkp

See you Monday!

🖤

08/01/2026

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Booker Rowe, an orchestral icon whose remarkable 50-year career with the The Philadelphia Orchestra inspired generations of musicians and audiences alike.

We were honored to welcome Booker to our podcast Black Music Seen, where he shared his story as a Black orchestral pioneer, reflecting on a career that helped shape the field and open doors for those who followed.

Today, we invite you to share your memories, reflections, and condolences in the comments as we remember his extraordinary life and legacy. Later this week, we’ll reshare his Black Music Seen episode so more people can hear his story in his own words.

Rest in peace, Booker, you will be missed. 🖤

07/26/2026

Summer is one of the busiest seasons for musicians, and if we’re honest, it’s been so busy that BON hasn’t had much time to post!

As we prepare for a new season, let’s also make time to take care of ourselves.

Join us this Monday, July 27 for BON’s July Community Conversation, hosted by Ebonee Thomas, as we explore musician wellness with special guests Meghan Jones and Joy Payton-Stevens. Together, we’ll discuss practical strategies for sustaining our health and well-being while navigating the demands of a career in music.

This event is free and open to all.

Register anytime at blackorchestralnetwork.org or via our Linktree.

https://linktr.ee/blackorchestralnetwork

We hope to see you Monday at 7:30 PM ET on Zoom!

06/11/2026

06/09/2026

We love to see (and hear) it! 🔥🔥🔥

This was a MOMENT! 🤩



Music Director Jonathon Heyward led the world premiere of Billy Childs’ “A More Perfect Union” on Tuesday in Baltimore.

Hear the BSO, and Anthony and Demarre McGill perform the Concerto again this weekend at Strathmore and the Meyerhoff!
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽

05/28/2026

Sharing with our community that friends of Blaize Henry are crowdfunding to commission a new work in honor of his memory and legacy.

Learn more here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/linton-stephens-1?utm_medium=CF&utm_source=CL 🕊️

05/22/2026

Gateways Music Festival stands in solidarity with the Black Orchestral Network and its third “Dear American Orchestras” letter. 🖤

In its third “Dear American Orchestras” letter, BON calls on orchestras and funders to reimagine fellowship programs as true investments in Black classical musicians — not symbolic gestures, but meaningful pathways to professional growth, belonging, and long-term employment.

This call is deeply aligned with Gateways’ mission.

Since its founding, Gateways has created space for Black classical musicians to gather, perform, collaborate, and be recognized in the fullness of their artistry. We know that access alone is not enough. Support must be sustained. Opportunity must be meaningful. Belonging must be real.

We affirm BON’s recommendations and stand with its call for an orchestral field that invests in Black musicians with the seriousness, care, and accountability they deserve.

We encourage our community to read the full letter and reflect on what true investment in the future of American orchestral music requires .

05/20/2026

BON's May Community Conversation has been moved to Tuesday due to the holiday weekend.

Join BON leadership for a conversation about Dear American Orchestras III and why now is the time to rethink and reinvest in meaningful pathways to long-term employment for Black classical musicians.

Together, we’ll discuss fellowship programs, accountability, and what meaningful institutional investment should look like moving forward.

Tuesday, May 26
7:30 PM ET

Open to all. Register for the Zoom link here: https://www.blackorchestralnetwork.org/open-letter-2026