Cleveland trumpet performer and teacher Theresa May has established a diverse, prolific career in music. From an early age, May has worked to break barriers and expectations in the orchestral world as a Black woman.
While pursuing her own education, May said she was one of the few Black people in her undergrad program.
“I think the lack of representation and me just feeling welcomed and 100 percent comfortable in my surroundings all the time was part of the reason why I didn’t want to keep pursuing taking a bunch of auditions,” May said.
This past year, she co-founded a new organization called the Chromatic Brass Collective (CBC). The national organization of brass musicians celebrates, performs, mentors, and educates to increase the visibility of racially and ethnically underrepresented women and gender non-conforming people throughout the brass world.
The group performed a debut virtual concert featuring 21 racially and ethnically underrepresented women and nonbinary brass musicians.
CBC also launched a $25,000 fundraising campaign to fund a mentor program, provide concerts, commission underrepresented composers, and provide educational presentations. Contributions are being accepted through Oct. 4.
