The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) has established its inaugural Diversity Fellowship Program to offer performance, education, and mentorship opportunities to three orchestral musicians who come from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
Starting in the DSO's 2023/24 season, the program will include cellist Keeon Guzman, violist Pedro Mendez, and bassoonist Jaquain Sloan as Fellows.
As part of an extensive curriculum, the three Fellows will engage in activities such as mock auditions, masterclasses, private lessons, teaching, and chamber music. They will also be compensated for 25 weeks of orchestral performances.
Moreover, each Fellow will be assigned a personal mentor who will provide guidance and support in their audition preparation and career development.
Keeon Guzman, who graduated from Mozarteum University Salzburg and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, has been taught by Enrico Bronzi, Eric Kim, and Brandon Vamos. He has also participated in various music festivals and programs, including the Pacific Music Festival, Music Master Course Japan Yokohama, Domaine Forget Music Festival, and the National Repertory Orchestra.
Pedro Mendez, a Venezuelan musician skilled in viola and violin, completed his studies at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory Academia Latinoamericana de Violín and Roosevelt University. In 2022, he was appointed assistant principal viola of the Illinois Philharmonic and co-principal viola of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He is also a Project Inclusion Viola Fellow at the Chicago Sinfonietta and a member of the Soto String Quartet.
Jaquain Sloan, a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Southern California, has earned recognition from various organizations and festivals such as the Sphinx Organization, Aspen and Brevard Music Festivals. He recently performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as an African-American Fellow. Additionally, he has collaborated as a singer with Björk, Phil Collins, Sigur Rós, Kronos Quartet, the GRAMMY-nominated choral ensemble Tonality, and The L.A Choral Lab.
Kim Noltemy, the president and CEO of the DSO, expressed excitement in welcoming these talented musicians as the first cohort of Fellows. The DSO aims to support their fellowship experience and assist them in launching their orchestral careers.
Under the guidance of its music director Fabio Luisi, the DSO organizes more than 150 orchestra concerts each year at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The orchestra's performances and outreach programs reach over 243,000 adults and children annually.
In addition, the DSO hosts over 200 outdoor chamber concerts in various neighborhoods throughout Dallas and offers online music lessons to over 700 students as part of its Young Strings and Young Musicians programs.
