Here is a typical example of unmasked progressivity running amok. In Atlanta Georgia the symphony orchestra has decided not to allow the previous high schools choruses to perform with them because they are not “racially diverse enough” to warrant participation. Apparently that means they are demographically “too white”.
However, in the strangest, well, not really strange – more like typical, fashion the Symphony itself refuses to self-describe their own diversity. So, after reading this article, well, actually after reading the comment from the “Director of Communications“, I just had to go look at the ethnic makeup of the Symphony itself.
“It is against our policy to share the race and/or ethnicity of our musicians, so I am unable to share that information.”
Subsequently a review of the entire orchestra make up, including conductors, shows they have one, yes one, black person (Brass Section – Stephen Wilson). Yup, as expected, the hypocritical slips of the pontificating musical progs are showing.
That’s because they’ve been told they are not racially diverse enough.
The Walton High School Chorus has received many honors and performed all over the world. So, too, has the Lassiter High School Chorus. But they won’t be back with the ASO for a joint holiday concert this coming December.
11Alive was first alerted to the change by e-mails from some angry parents, none of whom would go on camera. But a spokesperson for the Cobb County School District confirmed the breakup.
In a response to an 11Alive e-mail, school system communications director Jay Dillon wrote that “the schools were informed by Symphony officials that their choruses are not diverse enough, and that the Symphony would be inviting a third, more diverse chorus.”
Dillon said Walton and Lassiter were still welcome to participate but, “because of limited space, only a portion of the Lassiter and Walton choruses would therefore be able to attend.”
He added that the schools chose not to leave any chorus members behind and “would not be able to perform with the Symphony.” Dillon also wrote, “Cobb County School District choral programs are open to all students, and participation is determined on the basis of merit alone.”
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra sent us a written reply from marketing VP Charlie Wade.
“We’ve been thrilled with the quality and performance of Lassiter and Walton choruses for four straight years; they are terrific,” Wade wrote. “But we felt it was simply time to let another set of kids participate.”
He said Atlanta’s Grady High School chorus had been added.
Meanwhile, we also asked about the racial diversity of the ASO itself.
A 2008 study by the League of American Orchestras found that 87% of musicians in U.S. symphonies are white.
But Melissa A.E. Sanders, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s senior director of communications, wrote, “It is against our policy to share the race and/or ethnicity of our musicians, so I am unable to share that information.” (read more)
This is what annoys me about the pontifications of the progs. This same prog symphony who determines the schools ability to participate, based on their arbitrary view of the diversity, are themselves less diverse than the chorus they would disingenuously discriminate against.
A typically contrarian example of how ”what is good for me is not good for thee”. Every single aspect of prog life is fraught with these hypocritical positions; all of them.
In this ever changing new world of ours, people need to support what is right, and stop supporting what is wrong. In this case, it would mean boycotting the ASO in order to send them a strong message. I wonder what race/ethnicity their main audience is.
I agree 100%. People need to stop supporting the ASO. There is no reason that they couldn’t include all the schools. Wonder who there largest contributors are.
So, the high schools should just play the “Elizabeth Warren is 1/32 Cherokee, so she’s a woman of color’” card. I’m sure that in ten minutes, anyone with half a brain could have these kids divided, sub-divided and sub-sub-divided into about 57 different ethnicities, races, creeds and breeds. And like the good little Progressocrats they are, the Symphony PC Police would be compelled to accept it, because in their world, not doing so would hurt someone’s feeeeeeeeeeeeelings.
Or, play the Joe Biden card and put about half the kids in black-face and brown-face.
In Atlanta, I can see a LOT of Symphony memberships not being renewed, and a lot of walk-up sales going unsold.
Hope they enjoy playing to an empty house.
Unfortunately I think the opposite is going to be true. You will have progs lining up to listen and feel superior because they are so PC that they forced other schools with a lesser choir perform just because the demographic were acceptable.
Many of their regular subscribers are probably progs too, so they will applaud the decision, I’m sure. Or they are subscribers so that all of their friends and business associates will know just how sophisticated they are, so those folks won’t be frightened away either. It makes me sad that the ASO doesn’t realize how ridiculous this is.
Since I am quite close to, and am familiar with the ASO, AND have a high-schooler involved in her HS’s choir, this story hit home. The comments on 11Alive’s story echo those above – no more support for ASO due to this stoooopid move. Even people of color commented on the hypocritical nature of this move. Choir in HS is typically an elective, requiring auditions at the elite levels, at least in my area. It requires extra time outside of school hours, too — as does a HS sports team. Maybe they will now look at the diversity of HS football/basketball teams?
I agree. Football should be diverse too. Black is way over represented. Around here some teams are 90% Black.
Took the words right off the end of my fingers. I love SE College football and watch all the games. Don’t see many Scandinvians. Sumpthin outta be done.
Yah — those Scandanavian boys could definitely contribute, if given the chance!
Perhaps the ASO should offer reduced price or even free tickets to minorities so the audience is more diverse? May even get some minorities more interested in the symphony?
Why doesn’t the ASO play in south Fulton county or Clayton county?
Is it because they know better?
I think so.
Patrons of the arts have typically been of higher economic means, regardless of geography. The Woodruff Center is located in North Atlanta, as are the two high schools that got booted. Grady HS is in Midtown Atlanta, with approx. 66% AA, 27% Caucasian, and the rest “other”. Grady identifies itself with an “urban” label. South Atlanta is typically AA, but economic labels are based on areas within that; for example, some areas of College Park I would not even drive through — but other areas, like around the airport, are tourism-based, and need to stay mid- to up-scale or lose business.
This was a major marketing gaffe — I can see what they were trying to accomplish, but have gone about it the wrong way. They are alienating a major segment of their customer base, in an attempt to add additional supporters in another demographic. And I don’t think one will negate the other — IMO I think they now have to go into “damage control” mode. The only reason I suspect this has occurred is if they are getting funding from the city, who’s leadership is heavily AA. Or, if they receive federal or state grant money, is this now a requirement?
E-mail I just sent to the ASO:
I need some information about your organization’s recent decision not to allow certain high school choruses to participate in programs with ASO because they are not diversified enough.
1. Is the function of ASO diversity or music?
2. What if Elizabeth Warren, who claims to be 1/32 Native American, was in the chorus? Is she diverse enough to count toward the quota?
3. How can you tell when a chorus is racially diverse enough? What are your objective criteria?
4. What criteria does ASO use to ensure diversity within ASO itself?
5. What is ASO doing to increase diversity in audience diversity?
6. What is ASO doing to increase diversity in contributor diversity?
Here is the address to send to:
aso-info@woodruffcenter.org
Excellent, ZurichMike.
All “diversity quota” and “affirmative action” type regulation, legislation, policy, AND special interest organizations based upon RACE are SUBVERSIVE and unlawfully DISCRIMINATORY and UNCONSTITUTIONAL If there is going to be integration required by law then racists cannot pick and choose where they want segregation as they please.
That is a de facto DOUBLE STANDARD on its face what they are doing now.
+1,0000
And enjoy some escargot and Calvados for me!
Will that mean that many Maths, Physics, and Engineering departments will have to be closed down, as they are not “diverse” enough – though there plenty of Indian and Chinese students and profs.
Clearly “diverse” means something other ten non-White.
Diverse means whites are not welcome. And this group of whites is perfectly comfortable practicing self-hatred and groupthink in order to illustrate they are smarter and more inclusive than the rest of us. “Diverse” is just prog-talk for anti-white racism.
Since Allen West is accused of being an Oreo, would his children be welcome? I dunno–his heart ain’t quite right (according to them)–ya know that for a fact. He still probably thinks white persons are just as good as blacks. mmmmm.mmmmmm.mmmmm
Diversity = Black Empowerment code speak ….all part of the new language
What it really boils down to is discrimination based upon whether your heart is loyal to Jesus or Satan.
On a serious note, I don’t conclude these people are all evil. Seriously stupid and unthinking maybe.
When the talk about Elijah Muhammed and preemptive murder of white devils is on the table, and some of the near equally as perverse twisted beliefs of ostensibly [false] “Christian” black liberation theology, blacks talking that heretical talk are channeling and serving Satan. They ought to put those nutcases in a cell and let ‘em rot at Getmo. I don’t conclude that race necessarily has anything to do with whether a person serves Christ or is a minion of hell because that choice is more than skin deep. Martin Luther King was balied out of jail by Billy Graham so this isn’t about race but choices. It comes down to whether a person chooses wisely or chooses poorly. Making it about color / race they have already chosen poorly.
Ah…now I see I had tunnel vision when I read your comment. In my earlier comment, I was sorting through the apparent fact that the whites running the orchestra are abusing the word “diverse” are essentially being racist in their efforts to deal with their fears of being accused of being racist.
I do see why you link the evil connotation to Elijah Muhammad and BL theology. Yes.
“Diverse means whites are not welcome. And this group of whites is perfectly comfortable practicing self-hatred and groupthink in order to illustrate they are smarter and more inclusive than the rest of us. “Diverse” is just prog-talk for anti-white racism.”
Agree 1000% Sharon
Progs need serious psychotherapy for their guilt, denial, projection and nihilism!
I would like to see how this would fly against an all African-American music group.
Ya don’t think they’d restrict their connections with other black groups in order to be perceived of as diverse? Probably not. Unfortunately, I’m beginning to think that groupthink has so diluted the brainpower of these “masses” that even if they had a heart-change, their ability to reason through the intellectual processes necessary to change direction is absent.
Jazz bands will be issued diversity compliance waivers
Yes….just think if I wanted to join Earth, Wind, and Fire…and I am not a good musician…I should not be allowed to join EWF. And, not go and sue them because they “lack diversity”. I think people of all races would laugh at a lawsuit like that
I always assumed blacks were more interested in (C)Rap than orchestral music.
Guess I’m just a racist!
Oh good grief, this must mean that my musical hero, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr, needs to diversify. Take a look at his band. http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/111223_7787.shtml. The guy must be a racist, according to some definitions. Oh, but wait – he’s black, so he can’t be. I’m so confused.
You mean…you mean…he asked his music director to select people for their talent and not their skin colour? What a revolutionary thought!
I’m afraid Landau kind of disproves your theory, though, Carlos. He’d rather sing standards than rap. (If you’ve never heard of him, click on my avatar and scan down the page for some links.)
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A.S.O. hmmm, Aso= Assholes!! yeah, that’s the ticket, the PC crowd has descended to new lows, congratulations!!
(lower lip extended and quivering) But…..but…..will they still play Dixie?