Acclaimed saxophonist, composer and educator Steven Banks has announced the launch of Come As You Are, an innovative community engagement initiative designed to make classical music concerts more inclusive, accessible, and representative of the diverse communities they aim to serve. Anchored by performances of Billy Childs’ concerto for saxophone and orchestra Diaspora- a deeply moving exploration of race, identity, and the Black experience in America- Come As You Are aims to shift the concert experience beyond its traditional audience base, ensuring that Black and other marginalised communities are not only represented on stage but also feel welcomed in the hall. The initiative takes its name from Come As You Are, the celebrated work for piano and saxophone by Banks, underscoring his commitment to artistry that speaks to diverse stories and lived experiences.

Key objectives of the initiative include:

Delivering high-quality classical music experiences directly to Black and marginalised communities.
Encouraging and facilitating concert attendance from underrepresented communities
Building lasting relationships between orchestras and local communities.
Advocating for equity, accessibility, and cultural resonance in the classical music sector.

The Come As You Are initiative will take place across the 2025/26 season administered by KD SCHMID and world-class partners including:

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Oregon Symphony
Quad City Symphony Orchestra
Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra
Schubert Club
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

Plus, more to be announced.

Banks will present community performances in a range of welcoming and accessible settings, from schools and churches to community centres. Together with discounted tickets and targeted marketing campaigns in diverse local media, the aim is to reach and engage new audiences. Working in partnership with orchestras is at the heart of Come As You Are. By building on their existing infrastructure, the programme aims to strengthen and broaden each orchestra’s impact in the communities they serve—extending beyond the initiative itself.

Steven Banks- “Classical music offers us a vital opportunity to express ourselves, connect with others, and grapple with the complexities that life inevitably brings. The Come As You Are (CAYA) initiative is anchored in the notion that these capacities are available to all of us, not just a select few. CAYA aims to remove as many barriers as possible and create a pathway for new audiences to be enriched by this music. Diverse stories are being told, and it is crucial for those stories to connect with a more diverse audience. I am thrilled to be partnering with institutions around the world to launch this project this season. It has long been my mission to help diversify the field of classical music in every way possible, and this is a great step toward that goal. Please join us!”

Biography: Hailed by the Washington Post as “the saxophone’s best friend, fiercest advocate and primary virtuoso in the classical realm,” performer and composer Steven Banks strives to bring his instrument to the heart of the classical world. He commissions and writes music that expands the repertoire for saxophone, introducing audiences to new possibilities for artistic expression. Banks is a devoted and intentional supporter of diverse voices in the future of classical music.

For press inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:

Caroline Downs, Artist Manager, KD Schmid

Email: caroline.downs@kdschmid.co.uk

Steven Banks Launches Come As You Are to Bring Classical Music to Communities Underrepresented in the Concert Hall