Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
What began as a grassroots festival and has grown to international acclaim, Arts InFocus is proud to bring you this look into a true Rochester gem.
Since 1995, Gateways Music Festival has brought together professional classical musicians of African descent in Rochester, NY to both celebrate the contributions and increase the visibility of instrumentalists who are often marginalized in their professional fields. Through concerts, lectures, workshops and more, Gateways is redefining a false narrative; boldly exemplifying the talent and number of professional classical musicians of color.
Join us for our conversations with board members Lee Koonce and Kearstin Piper Brown, and musicians Kelly Hall-Tompkins, Armand Hall and Leonard Foy where we discuss the impact of this local gem, and how it amplifies the need for diversity in classical music.
Photos courtesy of:
Sonia James-Wilson
University Archives, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection, Winston-Salem, N. C.
What began as a grassroots festival and has grown to international acclaim, Arts InFocus is proud to bring you this look into a true Rochester gem.
Since 1995, Gateways Music Festival has brought together professional classical musicians of African descent in Rochester, NY to both celebrate the contributions and increase the visibility of instrumentalists who are often marginalized in their professional fields. Through concerts, lectures, workshops and more, Gateways is redefining a false narrative; boldly exemplifying the talent and number of professional classical musicians of color.
Join us for our conversations with board members Lee Koonce and Kearstin Piper Brown, and musicians Kelly Hall-Tompkins, Armand Hall and Leonard Foy where we discuss the impact of this local gem, and how it amplifies the need for diversity in classical music.
Photos courtesy of:
Sonia James-Wilson
University Archives, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection, Winston-Salem, N. C.
