Young classical musicians, undeterred by Trump's DEI reversal earn standing ovation at Symphony Center

When young musicians with Equity Arc were denied a chance to perform in Washington, D.C., because of President Donald Trump's executive order targeting diversity, equity and inclusion, Olivia Doolin was afraid the Chicago-based organization's other performances would also be affected.

But thankfully that didn't happen, she said, and on Sunday the 16-year-old viola player joined dozens of other students with the Equity Arc Pathways Orchestra for a performance at Symphony Center alongside members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

"I was so shocked to be on this stage today with so many people who I really enjoyed meeting," Olivia said after the concert. "I feel so cool. I feel like a real professional musician."

More than 60 students with Equity Arc performed in the concert, including several from Chicago. They were joined by 13 professional musicians. They filled the Symphony Center with classics, including Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s "Ballade in A minor" and Tchaikovsky’s "Symphony No. 4." The performance kicked off the city's Youth in Music Festival.

Gov. JB Pritzker and first lady MK Pritzker joined the packed audience in a standing ovation after Olivia and the other musicians put down their instruments.

Olivia and other young performers said it was uplifting to see so many people in the audience, especially after what happened earlier this year with another planned Equity Arc performance following Trump's attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion.

"I'm really grateful to everyone that came here to support us," she said. "This is one of the biggest crowds I've ever seen."

Equity Arc, which is headquartered in the West Loop, works with young musicians of color across the country to "help break down barriers" in the field of classical music. The organization helps them pay for instruments, matches them with mentors and helps them get jobs in music.

About 30 students with Equity Arc's Wind Symphony were supposed to head to Washington in May to perform with the President’s Own U.S. Marine Band. But that concert was canceled after Trump signed an executive order ending federal DEI programs. The order described the programs as "illegal and immoral."

The cancellation made national headlines. The CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" produced a segment on the students and helped make it possible for them to instead perform with retired U.S. Marine Band members in March.

A handful of students who were supposed to play in May performed in Sunday's concert. Though he wasn't among that group, Jacob Cornejo, 18, who has been playing the flute since the fifth grade, said it was unfair that the Washington concert was canceled.

"I believe that whatever color you are, you should be able to share what you're passionate about, what you love, with the world," Cornejo said.

Cornejo, who lives near Midway Airport, added that organizations like Equity Arc that champion diversity help people access valuable experiences they may not have been able to get otherwise.

"It allows people of color, people like me, to get on the grand stage and get some spotlight and experience what the professionals do at a young age," Cornejo said, adding that music is diverse, so the people who perform it should be as well.

"Music is for everyone, not just a certain race. You won't find every style of music in just one person, you're going to find it in a diverse group," he said.

Paloma Furst Chavira, 16, who is also from the Chicago area, has played the violin since she was 3. She said the Equity Arc program not only helps her gain experience, but it helps different kinds of music reach new corners of the city.

"It gives people of color the opportunities to play in stages like this and with amazing orchestras, and to bring more music to people in the city," she said.

The Equity Arc organization has received hundreds of donations since the May concert was canceled, including from as far away as Germany and Switzerland, executive director Stanford Thompson said.

And though the Trump administration has continued to target diversity, rolling back protections for people of color, women, the disabled and others, Thompson said Equity Arc is looking ahead and will continue to do its work.

Programs like Equity Arc "allow these musicians to be on the same level-playing field so they can compete for future opportunities alongside everyone else," Thompson said. "We're not apologizing for any of it."

And Cornejo had a message for those who don't see the value in DEI programs.

"Come to a concert," he said.