The time is now: Diversity, equity, and inclusion in music
These five alumni-of-color reflect on their experiences, challenges they’ve overcome, and their passion for music
Music fills our souls—especially during times of unrest and uncertainty. This enlightening and inspiring Experience Rochester lecture features five accomplished Eastman School of Music alumni—Nabaté Isles ’99E, C. Tyrone Allen ’17E, Kelly Hall-Tompkins ’93E, Tanya Chanphanitpornkit ’15E and Isrea Butler ’04E, ’06E (MM)—who’ve performed everywhere from Broadway to Carnegie Hall to homeless shelters around the world. Each has a distinctive perspective on equity, access, and being a person of color in the world of music.
In this recorded Experience Rochester lecture, learn about their experiences, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their passion for music. Not only will you gain new insights, you will also get to hear a brief performance from each alumnus.
Tyrone Allen ’17E is an accomplished bass player who began his musical journey at the age of three in Temple Hills, Maryland. He studied classical and jazz music at Eastman and then attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Today, he lives in Brooklyn, NY, and plays with many incredible musicians, including Ralph Peterson, Jazzmeia Horn, Rodney Green, and others. Tyrone also enjoys teaching guitar, bass, and piano.
Nabaté Isles ’99E is a Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer from New York City who earned his bachelor’s from Eastman and his master’s from New York University. Isles has performed, toured, and recorded with many artists, including Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), Christian McBride, Ravi Coltrane, and others. Isles has also pursued a career in broadcasting and production and was a host and producer for SiriusXM Sports.
Kelly Hall-Tompkins ’93E is a violin soloist entrepreneur. She has performed on the world’s top stages and is also featured in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Hall-Tompkins also founded and directs Music Kitchen-Food for the Soul, which has brought more than 100 chamber music performances to 18,000 homeless shelters around the world.
Isrea Butler ’04E, ’06E (MM) holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in trombone performance from Eastman and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Rutgers University. He is currently chair of the music department at North Carolina Central University and has taught at Eastman, Julliard, and Rutgers University. He has also performed with many orchestras, jazz orchestras, and on Broadway shows in New York City.
Tanatchaya (Tanya) Chanphanitpornkit ’15E, a double bassist from Trat, Thailand, is the orchestra director at Nyack Public Schools and at Teachers College Community School in New York City. She is also the conductor at Manhattan School of Music Precollege and on faculty at William Paterson University and Columbia University. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Eastman and taught at the Eastman Community Music School. She then went to Teachers College.
In October 2020, the Eastman Action Commission for Racial Justice published an extensive report that included recommendations to address issues related to equity, inclusion, belonging, and racial justice. In it, Dean Jamal Rossi underscored that “the time is now for Eastman to take bold and decisive actions that do more than demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access—our actions must also provide clear evidence of our stance against racism, bigoty, and discrimination.”
Read the full report here.
Learn more about the Eastman School of Music’s Centennial Campaign and help celebrate a century of artistry, scholarship, leadership, and community. Get involved, too—compose a fanfare, attend an event, tell us your story, and follow Eastman on social media. Find more Experience Rochester virtual events here.
— April 2021