Classical music is one of the so-called “high” art forms of Western art. Here in the United States, we think of it as taking place in extravagant concert halls, where people dress up and buy expensive drinks at intermission. The institutions responsible for curating what classical music is are huge non-profits with big endowments and well-compensated CEOs. This hierarchy doesn’t lead to an equitable landscape for artists or composers creating classical music. In fact, classical music is decades behind other art forms in welcoming and celebrating diverse perspectives amongst its artmakers – there are healthy conversations and programming decisions about equity happening in visual art, dance, and theatre.