November 2020 • Maestra

Raising the Baton: How Dr. Joyce Brown Became a Pioneering Broadway Maestra

We are reminded of musical prodigy Dr. Joyce Brown, who went on to become Broadway’s first African-American female musical conductor of a show beginning its opening night.

New Organization MUSE Is About to Level the Playing Field for BIPOC Artists in Theatrical Music Departments

“When you’re trying to tackle something as large and tentacled as systemic bias within an entire industry, partnering with the other organizations that are doing similar work in the same space is crucial,” Stitt continues. “If someone is looking at the MUSE Directory and happens to discover the Maestra Directory, that’s only good for everyone involved. There’s truly no need to compete or to duplicate efforts. Providing opportunities for women and people of color is all part of the same work, and we’re thrilled to be doing it together.”

Arts and Activism

Whether counting Americans for the census, participating in musical protest marches, composing songs to help get out the vote, or founding new musical organizations intended to champion a more diverse group of voices, these artist-activists are using their musicals skills and knowledge to empower others and to make the world a more equitable place.