Evolving the Concert Career Pathways Program at The UC Theatre — The UC Theatre

submitted by Marissa Gutierrez, The UC Theatre

based in Berkeley, Alameda County

We believe that the music industry should be an environment that's safe, accessible, and equitable to all regardless of race, class, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, or physical ability— and we value this diverse representation and participation represented in each Cohort. Now more than ever, it's crucial to remove the barriers to entry and invest in the next generation of music industry professionals— ensuring that the future of the industry is adaptive and inclusive.

While our lack of live events presents challenges to hands on training in our education program, we also have unique opportunities to develop new approaches for expanding our teaching, training, and mentoring in ways that we have not been able to do before— such as with expanding our multimedia program, implementing video production/streaming, and introducing a mentorship program! Our education staff is working tirelessly to adapt hands-on curriculum to a hybridized learning model to ensure that the education and professional development of our interns continues to meet the highest standards possible.

It's tough to witness the live music industry take an unprecedented hit, but despite all of the obstacles thrown our way, all of us at The UC Theatre hold a steadfast commitment to our community driven mission of removing barriers to entry. By providing accessible and adaptive professional development opportunities for underserved youth who will inherit and transform this industry, we hold firm in our dedication to continue preserving the vibrant music community in the Bay Area that we all know and love.