About

Supported by a grant from the Puffin Foundation, The New Impromptu Project is a commissioning project that seeks to uplift the voices of composers from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in Western classical music concert programs. The classical music repertoire consists primarily of works written by traditional white male composers. Historically, other voices have been ignored or systemically suppressed. The New Impromptu Project will uplift the voices of such composers by commissioning new works by four composers of color or female composers. Each composer will write a new impromptu in response to one by Franz Schubert, which will then be recorded and performed across the country.

As the New Impromptu Project primarily seeks to address the unfair reception and treatment of works by underrepresented composers, its aim is intimately connected with its “audience.” This project addresses these concerns in two ways: by presenting new music by underrepresented composers to the existing classical music audience, and secondly by reaching beyond that traditional audience to use this project as an opportunity to reach a more diverse and nontraditional audience.

The typical classical music audience tends to be disproportionately old and white. And as we have noted, the typical concert program tends to include works by a similar demographic. But besides broadening the representation in the repertoire, the New Impromptu Project also aims to broaden the classical music audience itself. We are committed to bringing this music to people who might not typically attend a classical music concert. Thus, in addition to performing in typical concert venues, we will program free performances in churches, community centers, and nursing homes to ensure that the music reaches a wide, culturally diverse audience.