October 9 to 12, 2026
Rochester, New York
Eastman School of Music
The 2026 Gateways Fall Festival brings four days of concerts, conversations, education, and community programs to Rochester.
The festival theme is “The sound expands. The story continues.” It reflects Gateways Music Festival’s focus on the depth, range, and continued growth of Black artistry in classical music.
Founded in 1993, Gateways has a mission centered on equity and on amplifying the contributions of Black classical musicians. Alex Laing serves as President & Artistic Director.
This year’s festival moves between recital halls, sacred traditions, jazz, soul, scholarship, storytelling, and youth education.
At the center is SANCTUARY: A Celebration of Black Sacred Music.
SANCTUARY & the Black sacred music tradition
SANCTUARY takes place Saturday, October 10, at 11:00 AM in Hatch Recital Hall.
The program celebrates:
- Hymns
- Spirituals
- Gospel
- Sacred jazz
- Classical music
The featured artists are violinist Kersten Stevens, trumpeter Herb Smith, and pianist Dr. Myron D. Brown. Smith is a 35-year member of the Rochester Philharmonic.
The program places sacred music within the larger story of Black artistry. These traditions are connected through melody, rhythm, improvisation, testimony, and shared musical memory.
For church musicians, choir members, and congregations, the program offers a setting to hear familiar traditions alongside classical and jazz forms. It also creates space to consider how sacred music continues to develop.
George Taylor, whose festival recital opens the weekend, describes musicians as “the gatekeepers of the spirituality of the human experience.”
That idea is central to SANCTUARY. The music is not presented only as a performance. It is also connected to worship, community, history, and the passing of tradition from one generation to the next.
A festival built around continuity
Gateways begins with a celebration of George Taylor’s 40 years at Eastman. It ends with young string players learning and performing with professional artists.
The schedule connects established artists, current performers, scholars, families, and students.
Alex Laing’s welcome message describes the festival as more than a series of performances. He points to the fellowship among artists, the recognition and connection audiences find in the music, and the possibilities young people see for their own artistic lives.
That structure is important for Rochester congregations. Church choirs and music ministries often carry musical traditions through regular practice, teaching, service, and shared participation. The Gateways schedule presents a related model across the concert hall, lecture space, and classroom.
The festival also gives audiences several ways to participate. Visitors can attend a recital, join a community conversation, bring children to a family concert, or support young musicians through the Rochester Day for Strings.
Four program days
Friday, October 9
Faculty Artist Series: Celebrating 40 Years: George Taylor in Recital with the Gateways Chamber Players
7:30 PM, Hatch Recital Hall
Violist George Taylor celebrates 40 years at Eastman with the Gateways Chamber Players.
The program is free with RSVP. A free livestream is also available.
View the 2026 Gateways Fall Festival schedule.
Saturday, October 10
SANCTUARY: A Celebration of Black Sacred Music
11:00 AM, Hatch Recital Hall
Kersten Stevens, Herb Smith, and Dr. Myron D. Brown present music connected to hymns, spirituals, gospel, sacred jazz, and classical music.
BLACKSOUND: A Paul J. Burgett Lecture and Community Conversation with Matthew D. Morrison
1:00 PM, Hatch Recital Hall
Matthew D. Morrison examines how Black musical artistry shaped American music. The discussion focuses on authorship, ownership, influence, and innovation.
Shana Tucker: ChamberSoul
8:00 PM, Kilbourn Hall
Cellist and vocalist Shana Tucker blends classical, jazz, soul, folk, and pop.
Check ticket and RSVP information through the Eastman School of Music box office.
Sunday, October 11
BLACK COMPOSERS. BRILLIANT MUSIC. Family Concert with pianist Ric’key Pageot
1:00 PM, Hatch Recital Hall
Pianist Ric’key Pageot introduces children to music by influential Black composers through live performance and storytelling.
PIANO RECITAL: Ric’key Pageot’s Classic Black
5:00 PM, Kilbourn Hall
Pageot presents three centuries of music by Black composers.
The two Sunday programs provide different entry points for families, students, musicians, and longtime concertgoers.
Monday, October 12
Young Musicians Institute: Rochester Day for Strings
8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Kilbourn Hall
This free, day-long program gives young string players the opportunity to learn and perform alongside professional artists.
Young Musicians Institute: Showcase
6:30 PM, Kilbourn Hall
The day concludes with a showcase featuring the young musicians. The showcase is free with RSVP.
Information for church groups & choirs
Groups of 10 or more receive $25 tickets to all paid ticketed programs with code GMF1993.
The offer is suitable for:
- Church choirs
- Music ministries
- Youth groups
- Congregational groups
- Community organizations
- Arts education groups
- Families attending together
SANCTUARY is the clearest starting point for church groups. Groups may also consider BLACKSOUND, the Shana Tucker performance, the family concert, or Ric’key Pageot’s piano recital.
Group leaders should confirm current availability through the Gateways festival page and the Eastman box office.
Venue & parking information
The festival takes place at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester.
Eastman School of Music
26 Gibbs St.
Rochester, NY 14604
Kilbourn Hall is in the Main Building at 26 Gibbs St.
Hatch Recital Hall is located at 433 East Main St. in the Eastman East Wing.
Patron parking is available in the East End Garage and nearby lots.
Check the venue information before traveling, especially when attending programs in different halls.
Printed programs & event materials
Churches and community groups attending together may also need printed schedules, invitations, flyers, programs, and more.
Image Printers M&P Corp. provides local support for:
- Programs
- Flyers
- Invitations
- Booklets
- Posters
- Tickets
- Color copying
- Black and white copying
- Graphic design, and more
The company’s Rochester fall event printing checklist covers programs, flyers, tickets, signage, and proofing.
Groups preparing their own artwork can review the print-ready file guide before submitting files.
Attend together
The 2026 Gateways Fall Festival offers Rochester congregations several ways to gather around music.
SANCTUARY provides the spiritual centerpiece. BLACKSOUND connects music with history and authorship. The family concert introduces children to Black composers. The Young Musicians Institute places young performers alongside professional artists.
Together, these programs show how Black artistry continues across generations and settings.
Church groups and choirs are invited to attend together from October 9 to 12 at the Eastman School of Music.
The sound expands. The story continues.