The Gateway Music Festival
The third annual Gateway Music Festival was held on September 8, 9,
and 10, 1995 in Rochester, New York. The festival was sponsored by the Eastman
School of Music of the University of Rochester. The Gateway Music Festival
features black musicians. This year there were 75 musicians. These black
musicians came from as far west as Los Angeles and as far south as Atlanta.
They traveled here to show off in the third annual music festival. While
here they performed at may recitals and concerts. They also performed in
many public schools and churches.
There were different aged and skilled performers. The youngest being
seventeen. They all performed very well.When they performed in public schools
children sat in their seats quietly. There were also amazed at what they
were playing and that they looked like them.
Michael Morgan was a director from the Oakland East Bay Symphony. He
conducted a" Lincoln Portrait." with William Warfield. Mr. Warfield's
outstanding performance gave a whole new meaning to the Lincoln Portrait.
The musicians thought it was a dream until it really took place. The fans
say that there was a special connection to the music that they played.
The festival was aired on National Public Radio in February. They had
interviews with Michael Morgan and William Warfield.
by Stephanie and Brittany
