In 2021, Brittney, Alexis, and Brianna, while at the Eastman School of Music and involved in the Black Students Union, helped establish Eastman’s first DEI office, now the George Walker Center for Equity and Inclusion. Their passion for supporting Black musicians led them to volunteer at the Gateways Music Festival during their 2022 performance at Carnegie Hall, which was the very first all-black orchestra to perform at the venue. Our conversations with Lee Koonce, former President & Artistic Director of Gateways, and the powerful performances and experiences we made with orchestra, sparked a powerful idea of a network that would bring together Black music students across the nation.

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     Driven by this vision, they spent two years developing the concept for BCM and interviewing students throughout the nation, which culminated in the Fall of 2024 with the launch of Black Collegiate Musicians. This organization, rooted in their experiences and dedication, aims to connect and uplift Black music students nationwide. Black Collegiate Musicians is a testament to the Founder's journeys and experiences at Eastman, Alexis’s time at Spelman College, and Brittney’s time at Nazareth College, that have all inspired them through the powerful community they built along the way