Welcome to Gateways LIVE

Tune in for our next broadcast on Monday, February 23, 2026 @ 7:30pm EST

about THE program

This Black History Month, experience a landmark work of American symphonic music as the Gateways Festival Orchestra performs William Levi Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, captured live at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music during the 2025 Gateways Spring Festival.

Composed in 1934, Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony stands as a monumental expression of Black cultural identity and artistic brilliance. Drawing deeply from the tradition of African American spirituals and shaped by Dawson’s research and travels in West Africa, the symphony traces a powerful emotional and historical journey — from ancestral memory and struggle to resilience, renewal, and triumphant hope. The work weaves folk melodies into a sweeping orchestral form, affirming the enduring influence of Black musical traditions on American classical music.

Performed by the Gateways Festival Orchestra — an ensemble of professional classical musicians of African descent from leading orchestras, conservatories, and the international freelance community — and conducted by Anthony Parnther, this performance embodies Gateways Music Festival’s mission to celebrate, elevate, and amplify Black classical artistry.

Filmed live at Eastman’s historic Kodak Hall during the 2025 Gateways Spring Festival, this livestream invites our community to witness a defining musical statement and a living legacy of cultural storytelling through symphonic music.

Help Sustain THIS Home for
Black Classical Artistry

Whether one-time, monthly, or quarterly, your support helps Gateways bring live programs like tonight’s to life, care for our artists, and build a legacy that will inspire generations.

$2,500.00

$1,000.00

$500.00

$250.00

$100.00

Custom Amount

Support us by covering the fees we have to pay

3% Cover the Fee

DONATE TODAY

MAIL YOUR DONATION: To send a donation via mail, please make check out to “Gateways Music Festival” and send to 26 Gibbs Street, Box 58, Rochester, NY 14604.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: To inquire about your donation, planned gifts, underwriting, sponsorship or gifts-in-kind, please contact LaTanya Afolayan at 585-274-1127 or by email.

Gateways Music Festival is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your gift is fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Gateways’ Federal Employer / Tax Identification Number (FEIN/TIN) is 16-1562873.

EXPLORING THE LEGACY OF WILLIAM LEVI DAWSON

As 2025 marked the 125th anniversary of William Levi Dawson’s birth, Gateways explored his music, vision, and legacy. Dr. Tammy Kernodle frames Dawson as a cultural worker, helping us hear Dawson more clearly—and remind us why his work still resonates.

Founded to counteract the isolation and underestimation faced by many Black classical artists, Gateways Music Festival embodies creativity, resilience, and community.

our story

Since 1993, Gateways Music Festival has been unwavering in its commitment to the ongoing project of equity for Black people, recognizing that this work is far from complete. Gateways challenges and disrupts the historical use of art to perpetuate racial hierarchies by celebrating and amplifying the contributions of Black classical musicians and sustaining this community of artists and its rich tradition. By providing a platform for Black classical artists, Gateways not only showcases their talent but also redefines cultural and aesthetic narratives, using art to foster a more just, inclusive world.

LEARN MORE