Come As You Are | Steven Banks
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About the project:
Steven Banks Launches "Come As You Are" to Bring Classical Music to Communities Underrepresented in the Concert Hall
This innovative community engagement initiative is 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 including:
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Oregon Symphony, Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Schubert Club, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, plus, 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.
