(Philadelphia, June 16, 2020)—The Philadelphia Orchestra is pleased to announce the appointment of Nicole Jordan as principal librarian beginning in the 2020–21 season. The position will bring her back to Philadelphia, where she was raised and began her career as The Philadelphia Orchestra’s library fellow from 2008 to 2011. Jordan will be the first African-American woman to join the Orchestra as a full-time member.
Uhhhhh and the situation isn't so different elsewhere. I would be interested to know when each US professional orchestra hired its first full-time Black member, man or woman. When did Philly hire the first African-American man, for example?
2 comments:
Ann Hobson Pilot was a pioneer. She joined the National Symphony Orchestra in 1966 and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1969, becoming principal harp at the BSO in 1980. I would guess she was the first full-time African-American member in either of those orchestras.
I'm pretty sure Robert Watt (former Assistant Principal Horn) was the first African American player in the orchestra when he joined in 1970. Since then, there have been Frederick Tinsley (retired bass player), Raynor Carroll (retired Principal Percussion), Dale Breidenthal (current violin), and John Lofton (current bass trombone). I may have forgotten one or two.
As far as conductors, there was Calvin Simmons (who spent many years at SF Opera) as Assistant Conductor under Mehta, and Thomas Wilkins (current Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Principal Conductor). Again, there may have neglected one or two.
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