NEW YORK – Gateways Music Festival returns to New York City with a celebration of the transformative power of Black classical artistry April 24-27. After launching with a series of concerts and conversations in Rochester, New York, on April 21, Spring Festival 2025 lands in Manhattan for performances, lectures and masterclasses from April 24 to April 27, rounding out the week-long event. At the heart of the festival is the Gateways Festival Orchestra, composed of Black professional classical musicians drawn from the nation’s leading orchestras and music faculties. Gateways’ finale concert at Carnegie Hall (April 27) marks the orchestra’s highly anticipated first return to the venue since its historic, sold-out debut in 2022. Led once again by conductor Anthony Parnther, this season’s finale program complements folk-inspired symphonies by Antonín Dvořák and William Levi Dawson with the New York premiere of a new Gateways commission from Damien Sneed, featuring Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges. Other festival highlights include solo recitals by Grammy-nominated violinist Curtis Stewart and pianist Rochelle Sennet; inspiring talks, discussions, and educational initiatives; and performances by the Gateways Brass Collective. Spring Festival 2025 is presented in association with the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music.
