Part of Boulanger Initiative’s mission is “to work toward greater inclusivity and to enrich our collective understanding of what music is, has been, and can be.” Redefining the Canon is an unprecedented initiative which aims to update the most widely-used orchestral audition excerpts to include excerpts by historically underrepresented composers. The exposure to works by these composers breaks down barriers and incorporates new and diverse programming as orchestras strive to do substantive and meaningful work to diversify their programs. While Redefining the Canon serves to change the narrative of excerpts required for orchestral auditions, we wholeheartedly believe that this work will transform the industry at large by uplifting this previously neglected repertoire.

The success of Redefining the Canon depends on 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.

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. 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 For unpublished manuscripts, we will work with staff and partners to engrave and publish the score, allowing not only the excerpt but the entire work to be widely accessible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.

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.

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