On April 27, Gateways Festival Orchestra returned to Carnegie Hall for a performance of Negro Folk Symphony by William Levi Dawson, led by conductor Anthony Parnther. This performance was broadcast around the world via WQXR and is now available for streaming.
The Gateways Festival Orchestra brings together musicians of African descent from leading U.S. orchestras and conservatories. Their performance of Negro Folk Symphony marks the first time it has been performed at Carnegie Hall since 1934. Gateways performed the work from G. Schirmer’s Critical Performance Edition of Negro Folk Symphony, published in 2023.
Negro Folk Symphony returns to Carnegie Hall on February 4, 2026, to be performed by Philadelphia Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting. Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra released the first commercial recording of Negro Folk Symphony’s Critical Edition in 2023.
The Philadelphia Orchestra also gave the world premiere of Negro Folk Symphony in 1934, with Leopold Stokowski conducting.
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