{"id":21332,"date":"2020-12-15T17:47:14","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T17:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/?p=21332"},"modified":"2023-03-07T16:52:33","modified_gmt":"2023-03-07T16:52:33","slug":"representation-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/adv\/alumni-news-media\/2020\/12\/15\/representation-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Representation matters"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Representation Matters<\/h1>\n

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Bringing classical music into schools through a new, equitable lens<\/h3>\n

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\"Travon

Travon Walker \u201921E<\/p><\/div>\n

Last year, Travon Walker \u201921E\u2014an aspiring opera singer who is studying vocal performance and arts leadership at the Eastman School of Music\u2014launched a URochester crowdfunding project called \u201cRepresentation Matters.\u201d The project will introduce middle and high school students to classical music, specifically the music created by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) that many are unaware of.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to show BIPOC youth that they belong in this classical music space and that there is a place for them,\u201d says Walker, who is also the recipient of the Lois Smith Rogers Scholarship and the Anne T. Cummins Voice Scholarship. “For young people, seeing others who look like them helps them feel included–it inspires them to imagine that they could make music like this, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walker says that it is important to present this music to white audiences, too\u2014for them to listen, learn, and expand traditional perspectives around classical music. \u201cClassical music is for everyone, and so is the music created by BIPOC composers,\u201d he adds. \u201cIn order to elevate it, more people need to be aware of it, perform these works, and advocate and showcase these pieces and their composers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The project officially launches in early 2021. That\u2019s when Walker and a group of 20 fellow Eastman students\u2014both BIPOC and white\u2014will bring this music to students in the Irondequoit, Penfield, and Webster school districts. That\u2019s just the beginning, though. Walker plans to bring the program to Rochester City School District, which has a high population of BIPOC students, and he wants to expand it to even more suburban schools, which have more white students.<\/p>\n

The program will work like this: students will take part in a multi-session Zoom experience that will kick-off with Walker introducing students to BIPOC composers and their music. Students will also receive a variety of short videos featuring members of Walker\u2019s musical team performing various pieces. In a follow up session, the performers will share what it was like learning about their pieces and what it meant to them to perform them. In the final session, Walker will explore what the students learned and experienced through the music.<\/p>\n

\"collage

\u201cRepresentation matters\u201d project<\/p><\/div>\n

When the world erupted last year with issues of civil unrest, social injustice, and racial divide, Walker felt compelled to bring this project\u2014which he first developed in an arts leadership class\u2014to life. \u201cI wanted to do something to make life better for more people through music,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Walker has rallied a lot of support, too. At first, the Friends of Eastman Opera came on board and provided some seed funding. Then, Walker met with Eastman administrators and together they developed this into a crowdfunding project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the first month, we raised more than half of our initial $5,000 goal,\u201d Walker says. \u201cNow we are continuing to fundraise so we can expand the program.\u201d Walker will use crowdfunding resources to cover costs for music, recording equipment, and more, including salaries for the project team\u2019s student musicians.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” use_row_as_full_screen_section_slide=”no” text_align=”left” background_color=”#e9e5d7″ css_animation=”” box_shadow_on_row=”no”][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”20px” image_repeat=”no-repeat”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1608054121402{padding-right: 40px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Watch and listen<\/h3>\n

Middle and high school students engaged in \u201cRepresentation Matters\u201d will be sent videos like these that feature Eastman students performing the works of BIPOC composers:[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1614960844279{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 40px 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Spotify playlist<\/strong><\/h3>\n

UR Alumni is pleased to present a playlist of some of the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) composers showcased in “Representation Matters,” a project developed by Travon Walker ’21E.<\/p>\n