Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; April 4, 2024)—Young people across New York City are taking part in weekly workshops at Carnegie Hall now through June as part of The B-Side, a program of the Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) that introduces career pathways in the music industry. Created for both aspiring artists and future music industry leaders alike, workshops help young people learn about the music business and connect them with music executives, accomplished writers, producers, engineers, performing artists, and more for an in-depth look into the industry. The B-Side aims to recruit participants from a variety of New York City neighborhoods and backgrounds, including communities that have been underrepresented in executive leadership of the music industry. Click here for an inside look into The B-Side.

After highly successful pilot intensives in 2023, programming returns for two cohorts of young people ages 14–17 and 18–22. Participants engage in weekly workshops at Carnegie Hall in addition to attending field trips—to Verve Records and the Louis Armstrong House Museum—Carnegie Hall concerts, panel discussions, and more. Workshop topics include identity and power in the workplace; marketing; radio and promotions; traditional vs. nontraditional pathways; contracts and royalties; and more. Several industry leaders and artists join as guest speakers including Kim Osorio, former editor-in-chief of The Source magazine; Rob Lewis, acclaimed music arranger, composer, and producer; and more. Teaching artists Alexis Atkinson and Maxwell Addo lead ongoing workshops for participants. A culminating celebration for both cohorts is planned for Saturday, June 15 in Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing.

For more than a decade, WMI has worked with young people in programs that help build essential skills and develop personal artistry. The curriculum for The B-Side was designed in collaboration with industry professional Leota Blacknor, consultant Dr. Donald Garner, program evaluator Dr. Chandra Llewellyn, and others. A small group of participants who took part in The B-Side last season have been selected for an alumni council, meeting bimonthly for continued learning, attending concerts together, and acting as ambassadors for the program.
 

“I was really surprised that not only did we get to learn about so many paths we can take to be involved in the music industry, but we got the chance to explore that and explore with confidence,” said Bree, a past B-Side participant. “Because we’re continuing to empower ourselves but we’re also empowered by the people around us—our facilitators, guest speakers. So a really big thank you to B-Side for doing that.”

About Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) creates visionary programs that embody Carnegie Hall’s commitment to music education, playing a central role in fulfilling the Hall’s mission of making great music accessible to as many people as possible. With unparalleled access to the world’s greatest artists, WMI’s programs are designed to inspire audiences of all ages, nurture tomorrow’s musical talent, and harness the power of music to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. An integral part of Carnegie Hall’s concert season, these programs facilitate creative expression, develop musical skills and capacities at all levels, and encourage participants to make lifelong personal connections to music.

More than 800,000 people each year engage in WMI’s programs through national and international partnerships, in New York City schools and community settings, and at Carnegie Hall. This includes more than 155 orchestras, music presenters, and education organizations in 40 states as well as internationally in 27 countries on 6 continents. WMI’s hands-on programs tap into the creativity of audiences of all ages, inviting them to make their own music in all genres, express their viewpoints, and raise their voices. WMI shares an extensive range of online music education resources and program materials for free with teachers, families, orchestras, arts organizations, and music lovers worldwide. As a leader in music education, WMI generates new knowledge through original research, which inform Carnegie Hall’s own programs and are also available as a resource to artists, organizations, and peers.

For more information, please visit: carnegiehall.org/Education

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Public support for The B-Side is provided by the Speaker of the New York City Council with sponsorship by Council Member Keith Powers and by the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Additional support for The B-Side is provided by The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation.

 

Photo by: Fadi Kheir