Too white to sing? Two high school choirs banned from performing with Atlanta orchestra 'for not being diverse enough'

Two celebrated high school choruses have been barred from performing with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at this year’s Christmas concert over alleged complaints that the groups are not racially diverse enough.

For the past four years, choirs from Lassiter and Walton high school in Cobb County have performed with the ASO, but for this year’s concert, another, more diverse chorus will take their place, according to Cobb County Schools spokesman Jay Dillon.

The school district pointed out that its choral programs are open to all students and participation is determined on merit alone.

Ousted: Walton High School's chorus has been barred from singing at Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday show

Severed tied: Walton High School's choir has been collaborating with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra over the past four years

‘We want the stages of the Atlanta Symphony, whether here, Verizon (Wireless Amphitheatre), or Chastain Park to reflect the diversity of Atlanta,’ ASO President Stanley Romanstein told WSBTV .

The move has sparked criticism in Atlanta, with some local residents, including African-Americans, decrying it as discriminatory and unfair toward students at the two high schools.



Romanstein said he was surprised by the reaction.

‘It's an interesting misunderstanding,’ he said.

Romanstein went on to say that he informed the chorus directors about the decision two years ago and said they were in agreement at the time.

Official explanation: President of the orchestra said the change was made to give other local school choruses a chance to take part in the Christmas show

‘There are at least 12 very talented high school choirs in Atlanta,’ Romanstein said. ‘We gave Lassiter and Walton choirs an opportunity to perform for four consecutive years, and they were marvelous.

‘We think it's time to give other Atlanta high school choirs, who are very skilled and deserving, their chance to perform with the ASO as well.’

Lassiter and Walton were given the option of sending some members of their choruses to perform at the concert, but the schools turned down the offer.

‘Because the full choruses would not be able to perform with the symphony, both Lassiter and Walton have declined to participate this year,’ said Dillon.

Misunderstanding: The ASO claimed that leaders of the two choruses were informed about the decision two years ago

Compromise rejected: Walton and Lassiter choruses both turned down an offer to send a portion of their groups to the annual concert



Grady High School's chorus has been invited to perform. The ASO president said they will also get a multi-year run.

Students in Lassiter and Walton were informed on Monday that they would not be participating at this year's event.

However, Charlie Wade, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s vice president of marketing and symphony pops, made no mention of diversity in his explanation for the change, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.



Members of the Walton chorus have taken part in at least five 'classical flash mobs' organized by the ASO to promote the Very Merry Holiday Pops concert

A 2008 study by the League of American Orchestras found that 87 per cent of musicians in U.S. symphonies are white, according to NBC11 .

For the past four years, only Walton and Lassiter’s choruses participated in ‘A Very Merry Holiday Pops,’ which is part of the symphony’s Coca-Cola Holiday Concert Series held at the symphony hall in the Woodruff Arts Center, Wade said.