Gateways Music Festival Returns to Rochester

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Gateways Music Festival, in association with the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, returns to Rochester October 9–12 for its 2026 Fall Festival, a four-day celebration of Black classical artistry and the ways tradition continues to evolve through performance, sacred music, improvisation, scholarship, storytelling, and education.

The festival features artists and programs spanning generations, including:

Oct. 9 — Faculty Artist Series | Celebrating 40 Years: George Taylor in Recital: Violist and longtime Eastman professor George Taylor marks four decades of teaching, mentorship, and artistry with the Gateways Chamber Players. The performance will launch Gateways’ 2026–27 season.
Oct. 10 — SANCTUARY: A Celebration of Black Sacred Music: Queen of the Violin Kersten Stevens, trumpeter/composer/conductor Herb Smith, pianist Myron D. Brown, and additional artists explore the continuum of Black sacred music, from hymns and spirituals to gospel, sacred jazz, and contemporary devotional music.
Oct. 10 — BLACKSOUND: Award-winning musicologist and Stanford professor Matthew D. Morrison examines Black musical artistry, authorship, cultural ownership, influence, and the development of the American musical canon.
Oct. 10 — ChamberSoul: Cellist, vocalist, songwriter, and composer Shana Tucker blends classical, jazz, soul, folk, and acoustic pop while using storytelling to expand the possibilities of the cello.
Oct. 11 — Family Concert: Steinway Artist Ric’key Pageot introduces young audiences to groundbreaking Black composers through live performance and storytelling.
Oct. 11 — Classic Black: Ric’key Pageot presents music by Black composers spanning three centuries, including the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Robert Nathaniel Dett, William Grant Still, and George Walker.
Oct. 12 — Young Musicians Institute: Rochester Day for Strings + Showcase: Young string players ages nine and older participate in a free day of master classes, improvisation, ensemble work, and collaborative music-making before joining Gateways teaching artists for a family-friendly performance on the Eastman stage.

Tickets and registration are now open. Early-bird tickets to select performances are $25 with code EARLYBIRD through September 15; standard pricing of $35 begins September 16.

Gateways Announces New Board Leadership

Gateways also announces Kate Washington, MBA, as chair of its Board of Directors and welcomes Gabriel Bender, Edward J. Lewis III, and Dr. Shaun Nelms as new board members. The appointments come as Gateways expands its performance, education, and digital programming while strengthening its relationship with the Eastman School of Music and its Rochester community.

Free Digital Season Expands Gateways’ Reach

Beginning October 9, Gateways will offer a series of free digital programs, including livestreams, encore performances, and curated presentations drawn from more than three decades of Gateways programming. Upcoming highlights include the Gateways Brass Collective in November, the Gateways Festival Orchestra performing Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony in December, and Morrison’s BLACKSOUND lecture during Black History Month 2027.