Steven Banks launches "Come As You Are" initiative

Acclaimed saxophonist, composer and educator Steven Banks has announced the launch of Come As You Are, an innovative community engagement initiative designed to make classical music concerts more inclusive, accessible, and representative of the diverse communities they aim to serve.

Anchored by performances of Billy Childs’ concerto for saxophone and orchestra "Diaspora" - a deeply moving exploration of race, identity, and the Black experience in America - Come As You Are aims to shift the concert experience beyond its traditional audience base, ensuring that Black and other marginalised communities are not only represented on stage but also feel welcomed in the hall. The initiative takes its name from Come As You Are, the celebrated work for piano and saxophone by Banks, underscoring his commitment to artistry that speaks to diverse stories and lived experiences.

Key objectives of the initiative include:

• Delivering high-quality classical music experiences directly to Black and marginalised communities.
• Encouraging and facilitating concert attendance from underrepresented communities
• Building lasting relationships between orchestras and local communities.
• Advocating for equity, accessibility, and cultural resonance in the classical music sector.

The Come As You Are initiative will take place across the 2025/26 season in collaboration with world-class partners:

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Oregon Symphony, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Schubert Club, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

and more to be announced

Banks will present community performances in a range of welcoming and accessible settings, from schools and churches to community centres. Together with discounted tickets and targeted marketing campaigns in diverse local media, the aim is to reach and engage new audiences. Working in partnership with orchestras is at the heart of Come As You Are. By building on their existing infrastructure, the programme aims to strengthen and broaden each orchestra’s impact in the communities they serve - extending beyond the initiative itself.

Steven Banks:

“Classical music offers us a vital opportunity to express ourselves, connect with others, and grapple with the complexities that life inevitably brings. The Come As You Are initiative is anchored in the notion that these privileges are available to all of us, not just a select few.
In Billy Childs’ saxophone concerto, Diaspora, this medium is used to chronicle his view of the Black American experience. Other composers write of love, respond to political happenings, and create depictions of joy coming in the midst of great sadness. These expressions of humanity are undoubtedly universal.
The Come As You Are initiative aims to remove as many barriers as possible and create a pathway for new audiences to be enriched by this music. Diverse stories are being told, and I believe it is crucial for those stories to connect with a more diverse audience.
I am thrilled to be partnering with institutions around the world to launch this project this season. It has long been my mission to help diversify the field of classical music in every way possible, and this is a great step toward that goal. Please join us!”

For more information about the project, please visit: https://steven-banks.com/caya-initiative or watch Steven Banks talk more about the initiative here