Spartanburg Philharmonic Renews Commitment To Fight Racial Injustice

During the past week, the Spartanburg Philharmonic has been in a state of reflection. We have taken this time to listen to the voices in our community and the nation at large as they have shared their anger and grief at the systemic racism and continued injustice our black community faces. We have taken this time to look inward, at our institution and corner of the arts world, and the inherent bias that exists there. We too stand with our Black community. And with all Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) who are subject to racism, prejudice, and injustice.

Today, the Spartanburg Philharmonic renews its pledge to enrich our community by strengthening our commitment to do our part to end racism and bigotry.

We know that mainstream classical music has historically been a white art form, one that is also largely associated with privilege and wealth. This extends into our organization and our concert halls. The Spartanburg Philharmonic continues to be committed to improving inclusivity and diversity by making persons of color an integral part of our leadership, our orchestra, as well as the music we play.  

We believe in the transformative power of music, both as an experience and as a fundamental part of every young person’s education, regardless of their race or income. We are honored to partner with the Title 1 schools in our community to support their music education goals and to provide students with increased access to live music performances. The Spartanburg Philharmonic is dedicated to building upon these partnerships, actively seeking new opportunities to enhance the educational experience of all BIPOC students in Spartanburg.

We stand in support of the BIPOC artists and musicians of our community.  Through our partnership with Hub City Writers Project and the Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Spartanburg Music Trail honors many of Spartanburg’s black musicians that made significant impacts in the music world. Still, we know that there is more we can do to uplift and promote their work and those of the future generation. We pledge to continue to seek meaningful ways to magnify their work and contributions to our community. 

We know that there is still more work to be done and that we may not always get it right. We pledge to keep listening, learning, and partnering within our community to better understand the inherent racism, bias, and inequality BIPOC artists and musicians in our community face. We are with you so that, together, we can work towards a better future.