PROTESTRA (protest + orchestra) bridges the divide between advocacy and classical music through grassroots orchestral benefit concerts.
Our new vision for classical music prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, representation, and accessibility.
OUR STORY
First assembled in 2017 and formally incorporated in 2020, PROTESTRA is a volunteer-run orchestra and 501(c)(3) organization. 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 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.
WHAT WE DO
PROTESTRA's mission is to highlight important social justice issues through the lens of classical music. We do so by:
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Organizing and performing orchestral benefit concerts that educate our audiences about these issues.
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Providing a forum for discussing these issues and empowering musicians to stand up for what they believe in.
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Raising funds for charities and activist organizations focused on tackling the issues we highlight and advancing social justice.
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Advocating for and exemplifying greater diversity and inclusivity in the classical music industry through our musical programming, hiring practices, and organizational culture.
Since September 2020, PROTESTRA has held eight issue-centered benefit concerts that reached several thousand in-person and online audience members, raised over $28,000 in audience donations for nonprofit beneficiaries, and provided over $25,000 of paid work to 250+ musicians.
