TAKING A STAND
SHOULD BE THE STANDARD.
OUR STORY
First assembled in 2017 and formally incorporated in 2020, PROTESTRA (protest + orchestra) is a volunteer-run orchestra and 501(c)(3) organization that bridges the divide between advocacy and classical music. PROTESTRA’s grassroots orchestral benefit concerts inspire activism by contextualizing classical music performance through multimedia education, and turn voluntary audience donations into targeted support for mission- and policy-driven groups related to the concerts’ themes. PROTESTRA’s new vision for classical music prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, representation, and accessibility in both its hiring and programming practices.
Additionally, PROTESTRA maintains a robust social media presence, creating and sharing original content and resources with 8,000+ followers across multiple platforms.
NEWS & EVENTS
Live from New York: Michelle Rofrano
Article by Jonathan Shia for Cero Magazine
Photography by Maru Teppei
"This past February, on a clear but chilly Sunday, guests with tickets to Protestra's latest concert received an urgent email just hours before showtime with a schedule and venue change. Frozen pipes had flooded the original location, leaving Michelle Rofrano, the orchestra’s founder and music director, barely enough time to secure a new spot to present the program of Barber, Tchaikovsky, and a recent work by the Métis composer Karen Sunabacka to raise awareness around mental health."