Redefining the Canon

An unprecedented initiative to update the most widely-used orchestral audition excerpts to include excerpts by historically underrepresented composers.

  • "Boulanger Initiative has done more to identify and catalogue music by women than any other organization, and through Redefining the Canon they are in a unique position to affect crucial change throughout the industry, and ensure that women’s voices remain heard by audiences around the world.”

    — Jennifer Higdon, GRAMMY Award-Winning Composer

  • “This is a truly exciting moment for our music world - through Boulanger Initiative’s Redefining the Canon we have an exceptional opportunity to redefine and expand our classical canon to include the vibrant works of our time and the unjustly neglected music of the past.”

    — JoAnn Falletta, GRAMMY Award-Winning Conductor and Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic

  • “"Shifting [the] status quo requires an unapologetic, head-on approach to challenging today's western classical institutions, and the Boulanger Initiative is one of the leaders in this movement. "

    — Loki Karuna (formerly Garrett McQueen), Arts Activist, Executive Producer of TRILLOQUY, President of TrillWerks Media

  • "Redefining the Canon is a transformative project that allows for the alignment of the values purported currently by orchestras to more deeply engage with works of diverse composers.”

    — Dr. Louise Toppin, Professor of Music (Voice), University of Michigan, Director of Videmus and the George Shirley Vocal Competition, Founder of the African Diaspora Music Project

  • “[Redefining the Canon] will help our orchestra and orchestras throughout the country to think beyond the conventional list of works in an audition process and to expand our knowledge of the diverse and exquisite repertoire that exists, that sadly has been overlooked for too long. This is a great step."

    — Katie McGuinness, Wildenthal Families Chief Artistic Officer, The Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Why should we redefine the canon?

By adding historically underrepresented composers to required audition repertoire lists, this national, field-wide effort serves as a catalyst for orchestras to program more inclusive and diverse works, and in turn attract a more diverse candidate pool for auditions. Diverse audition repertoire begets a diverse talent pool, and a diverse talent pool begets a diverse and sustainable audience. Our collective goal is for musicians of color and marginalized genders to be welcome, valued, and celebrated.

How does Redefining the Canon work?

Boulanger Initiative will provide a list of curated excerpt substitutions with the hope that professional, higher education, and entry-level orchestras can then incorporate the full pieces from which they were sourced into their audition repertoire and programming. We also offer the opportunity for musicians from partner organizations to work hands-on in this process by becoming Excerpt Foragers.

Who is this for?

We work with partner organizations from across the industry opting-in to this active step toward equity and representation. Partner organizations include but are not limited to orchestras, summer festivals, and youth orchestras, with priority for organizations with set audition repertoire lists.

What is an excerpt forager?

Excerpt Foragers are given a chance to act as Citizen Artists through this program and make a tangible impact on the orchestral field, whether only for one upcoming audition or on a more consistent basis. We will provide all necessary materials for musicians to search through orchestral parts and choose alternate orchestral excerpts.

Boulanger Initiative facilitates the collection of excerpts sourced from compositions held in libraries, archives, special collections, and private family collections. We will ensure that all scores and manuscripts are legible before being sent out to our Excerpt Foragers so that they can easily locate the appropriate musical passages. For unpublished manuscripts, we will work with staff and partners to engrave and publish the score, allowing not only the excerpt but the entire work to be widely accessible to orchestras all over the world.

Program Coordinator: Olivia Ren (RTC [at] boulangerinitiative.org)

Learn More

Partners:

Organizational Partners:

African Diaspora Music Project
League of American Orchestras
National Philharmonic

Orchestral Partners:

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Jackson Symphony Orchestra
National Philharmonic
Peoria Symphony Orchestra
Richmond Symphony
River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO)
Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra

Become A Partner