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W&L Lecture to Focus on Underrepresented Composers Ashley Killam will present a lecture titled “Fanfare for the Unheard: Diversifying Stands and Creating Inclusive Repertoire.”

AshleyKillam64-291x350 W&L Lecture to Focus on Underrepresented ComposersAshley Killam

Washington and Lee University will host Ashley Killam, founder and president of Diversify the Stand, on Oct. 8 at 5:15 p.m. in Wilson Concert Hall.

The lecture, titled “Fanfare for the Unheard: Diversifying Stands and Creating Inclusive Repertoire,” is free and open to the public. All audience members are required to wear a mask.

Killam will highlight new music during her lecture and provide insight and resources on creating change within individual programs.

Diversify the Stand is a nonprofit organization that provides accessible educational music by commissioning composers of color, gender-marginalized composers and composers identifying as LGBTQ+. Killam, who holds a master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of New Mexico, has presented the lecture in more than 80 high schools and colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada.

“I was thrilled when Ashley reached out to me in 2020 to share what she does and to say that she had recently relocated to Radford,” said Gregory Parker, professor of music at W&L. “Our department had just launched an initiative to diversify our curriculum and pedagogy, and her presentation fits perfectly into our plans. We are delighted to provide our students, as well as other musicians in our area, the opportunity to hear from her.”

The W&L Concert Guild is funding the lecture. For more information, contact the W&L Department of Music at 540-458-8852.