June 8, 2020
We have witnessed the recent horrific incidents of racial injustices, and have seen and felt the subsequent anger and despair. Many thousands have flocked to the streets to protest, demanding equity and soliciting meaningful societal change. Exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has so disproportionately affected communities of color, the painful reality of suffering in our collective community cannot be ignored. Silence is not an option.
FMMC was founded in 1886 by a small group of women to expand the performance opportunities often denied to them in greater society. It is for that same reason that FMMC endeavors to make our membership, performances, and competitions open to all in the present day.
At this pivotal time in history, we as musicians and music lovers look to our art to express our deepest feelings of outrage in solidarity with the black community both in our beloved city and across the nation.
Yet, clearly, there is even more to be done. We remain committed to our mission while pledging renewed efforts to support a more just and inclusive world. We commit to standing up against racism and recognizing needed areas of growth. We must do better in our own musical lives.
We welcome your thoughts and ideas about how FMMC can be a part of the solution moving forward. To that end, we have put together a list of resources addressing diversity in classical music to help all of us find more ways to engage with this issue. You can access these resources on our website here.
Stay safe and continue to look out for one another.
With love and support,
Leslie Luxemburg (Club President), Grace McFarlane (Foundation Director), and the combined staff and boards of FMMC and the FMMC Foundation
