Black musician redfines the symphony orchestra

Q City Metro   Jason Ikeem Rodgers, founder and music director for Atlanta’s Orchestra Noir, has captivated audiences with his fusion of classical music and contemporary genres like hip-hop and R&B.

Before establishing the African American orchestra in 2016, the award-winning conductor worked with various orchestras across the country and abroad. ... But, Rodgers found himself in a space that was lacking diversity — it was overwhelmingly white, older and wealthy. The industry was also dealing with economic challenges. In 2012’s “The Perilous Life of Symphony Orchestras,” a Stanford University study discovered that all orchestras operate at a deficit. Not to mention, concert ticket sales weren’t covering expenses, and symphonies weren’t appealing to younger audiences.

“For the past 20 to 30 years, the symphony has been dying,” he said. “I think hip-hop and R&B within the symphony is a great way to revive an old art.”