New Jersey Symphony Orchestra announces auditions for 2022–23 Colton Fellowship
- Fellowship is an excellence-based program open to early-career Black and Latinx musicians
- Orchestra to offer up to two fellowships for string players
- Application deadline is January 10, 2022; auditions take place in February and March
- njsymphony.org/fellowship
NEWARK, NJ—The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra announces that the application process for the 2022–23 NJSO Colton Fellowship, an excellence-based program designed to support early-career Black and Latinx musicians in the orchestra field, is now open. This initiative continues the NJSO’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The NJSO Colton Fellows will participate in the full breadth of the NJSO musician experience of statewide service to people of all ages—performing in mainstage concerts, education programs and chamber music performances across the state. Fellows will receive full salary and benefits; they will also participate in a series of professional development activities tailored to their individual career goals.
For the 2022–23 season, there are two positions available for a violinist, violist, cellist or bassist. One fellow may receive an additional contract for part of the 2021–22 season. Audition travel assistance may be available upon request; audition coaching with NJSO musicians will be available.
The application deadline is January 10, 2022. The NJSO will hold auditions February 28–March 2. For fellowship eligibility and application details, visit njsymphony.org/fellowship.
Current Colton Fellow Laura Andrade, a cellist, says: “The Colton Fellowship has been an essential part of my growth as a musician—not only because of the immersive orchestral experience, but also because of the relationships formed with members of the orchestra and the opportunity to explore my role in the section and in the orchestra as a unit. I really appreciate the proactive approach that the section and rest of the orchestra have taken to help prepare me for the world after [this fellowship].
“I think that a fellowship like this is so important because, as a cultural and artistic entity, it is our duty to set an example of inclusivity and kindness to the world. That’s why it is so important in our modern day society to have our orchestras represent the people we see in our everyday world, because ultimately that is how we can keep tradition alive. [The Colton Fellowship] isn’t just an orchestra job; it’s also being an ally and being an active proponent of the changes that need to be implemented in the orchestra world.”
The NJSO Colton Fellowship grew out of the Orchestra’s continuing commitment to transforming all aspects of the organization to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.
A member of the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS), an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras, the NJSO is helping to remove financial barriers to the audition process. NAAS is made up of the Sphinx Organization, New World Symphony and the League of American Orchestras.
The fellowship is made possible by a generous gift from Judith and Stewart Colton.
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra connects with the people and diverse communities of New Jersey through the power of live symphonic music to inspire, entertain and educate. Internationally renowned Music Director Xian Zhang has garnered critical acclaim on the podium and has deepened the NJSO’s commitment to presenting diverse voices that reflect the communities the Orchestra serves.
The NJSO embraces its legacy as a statewide orchestra through mainstage and chamber performances at venues across New Jersey, as well as partnerships with fellow Garden State arts organizations, universities and civic organizations. The Orchestra’s education and community engagement programs promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NJSO has made virtual performances and educational online programs available for free, reaching more than 10 million people across the Orchestra’s digital channels. NJSO Concert Films pair world-class NJSO performances with stunning imagery of the people and cityscapes of New Jersey. The NJSO has presented innovative programs with fellow arts organizations, community ensembles and statewide partners. Musicians perform solo and chamber works from iconic New Jersey locations in NJSO Everywhere. NJSO at Home spotlights intimate at-home performances, instrument demonstrations, educational videos and hours of concert recordings.
The NJSO Youth Orchestras have not only continued virtual instruction but have introduced an entirely new dimension to the program. In 2020–21, nearly 200 students collaborated on a yearlong creative composition project—a uniquely engaging opportunity for students to explore their own musical voices and shape new works drawing from all the genres that inspire them. The project culminated in Our Voices, an album of 25 original compositions.
The safety of our patrons, musicians and staff is of the utmost importance to the NJSO. Please visit njsymphony.org for constantly updated details focused on attendees’ well-being at our performances.
The Orchestra’s online hub for free musical content is njsymphony.org/virtual.
Connect with Us:
Website: njsymphony.org
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NJSymphony
YouTube: @NewJerseySymphony
Email: information@njsymphony.org
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, along with many other foundations, corporations and individual donors.
Press Contact
Victoria McCabe, NJSO Director of Public Relations & Communications | 973.735.1715 | vmccabe@njsymphony.org
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