Gateways Festival Orchestra | Armenta Hummings Dumisani, Gateways’ Founder and Pianist Photo Credit: Todd Rosenberg
Black classical artistry takes center stage from New York City to Winston-Salem, with works by classical greats, including Black composers, and national engagements with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Carnegie Hall Citywide and more
Rochester, N.Y. (March 5, 2026) — Gateways Music Festival’s 2026 Gateways Spring Festival honors the Festival’s visionary founder, pianist and educator Armenta Hummings Dumisani, in celebration of her 90th birthday on June 27. Dumisani, a hidden figure in both Black and Women’s history whose leadership built one of the most vital communities for Black classical musicians in America, founded the festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where the festival will return this April. The 2026 Gateways Spring Festival is presented in association with the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music.
