BOSTON — Becoming a classical musician requires years of training, often with expensive lessons.
That combination can make it out of reach for many Black students.
A recent study found only about 2% of musicians in American orchestras are Black.
A local non-profit called Project Step is working to break down barriers for young Black musicians and is putting some dreams in sight that these students never thought possible.
It’s not unusual for the sound of music to fill a rehearsal space at Boston’s Symphony Hall.
But it is uncommon when the artist is a Black high school student.
Sarah-Alysse Williams is a 15-year-old student from West Roxbury who loves the deep sounds that come from her cello.
Every Saturday she comes to Symphony Hall to practice with other members of Project Step.
“I would say it’s definitely a great sense of community at Project Step and it’s fun being able to hang out with kids that are just like you and that love playing the instruments and they look just like you.”
Professional musicians teach students who range from the 1st grade – 12th grade.
The annual fee for students to participate is just $300 and that is often waived.
Dr. Ian Saunders, the artistic director for Project Step, said representation at most American orchestras is below par, adding, “Those orchestras tend not to look like the community they actually serve.”
He says the challenge with developing Black musicians isn’t just about exposing them to classical music. It’s about retention.
“When you find students who are interested, there are a number of challenges that they have to overcome to maintain interest,” explained Saunders. “One of which is a simple one, which is the better I get, the fewer people that people look like me.”
Sarah-Alysse loves music but also thinks the training she gets at Project Ste could help her realize her dream of becoming a doctor one day.
“I also think the dedication and working through things, even though some things may take more time to learn than others. It’s just like, keep going hard and practicing, and it’ll pay off eventually.”
That’s the spirit of Project Step, a part of the lesson for even their youngest students.
For Dr. Saunders, that’s part of music’s power, a power that needs to be available to everyone.
“This is an art form, and like any art form, it chronicles the human condition, and so if you’re going to do something like that, then all those voices deserve to be chronicled and heard.”
Right now, Project Step has 56 students enrolled in their program. They’re hoping to expand that number, if they can work out some logistics, like adding additional rehearsal space.
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