A study of mechanisms inhibiting racial and gender diversity and equity in American orchestras and their concert programming

This study investigates the organizational culture of small-to-midsize American symphony orchestras. Specifically, the project qualitatively examines the process of creating pre-COVID-19 full-orchestra concert seasons by analyzing orchestras’ musical repertoires and interviews with orchestral leaders. The study seeks to understand how orchestral leaders perceive racial and gender equity and the extent to which they seek to cultivate a diverse and equitable culture in American classical music circles. The project aims to illuminate the underlying organizational culture and mechanisms that have prevented equity in musical access.