The Jacksonville Symphony strives to make a difference in the arts so that musical opportunities are accessible to all, both on and off the stage, through its robust Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Part of the Symphony’s DEI Strategy is to diversify audiences who attend the Symphony’s concerts and to recruit and retain musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Partnering with the Symphony to create an orchestra that is reflective of the community it serves is Sphinx, a social justice organization based in Detroit whose mission is to “transform lives through the power of diversity in the arts.”

Musicians who are just beginning their musical journeys, seasoned professionals, administrators and entrepreneurs are among the many individuals who Sphinx supports. The organization provides a wide variety of services that highlight musicians’ achievements and foster their artistic growth. These include year-round tuition-free education, performances, tours of four premiere ensembles, creative youth development, sector-wide partnerships with 300+ organizations, new commissions by Black and Latinx composers and many other initiatives.

Bassoonist Dr. Maya Stone has participated in Sphinx’s programs since 2008 and will be joining the Jacksonville Symphony for the 2023/24 season.

Stone is a native of Troy, New York, who received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in bassoon performance from the University of Texas at Austin in 2010, a Master of Music degree in bassoon performance and woodwind specialty from Michigan State University in 2003 and a Bachelor of Arts in music education from SUNY Potsdam in 2001. She has held multiple full-time teaching positions, including visiting professorships at the University of Missouri in Columbia and Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Stone was the Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Middle Tennessee State University from 2004 to 2011, and in 2004, she held a visiting professorship in Double Reeds at Austin Peay State University. She maintains an active private teaching schedule, where she focuses on developing the musicianship and life skills of young people.

Stone is also the tenured second bassoonist of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and regularly gives recitals and master classes around the U.S. each year. Stone is frequently engaged as a freelance musician around the country, and is based in Nashville, Tennessee, and upstate New York. Some of her freelance activities include being a member of Nashville based ensemble, chatterbird, and getting to perform on occasion with international groups such as Bang on a Can, and Alarm Will Sound.

Active behind the scenes with several musical organizations, Stone previously served on the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) Executive Board as a Member at Large from 2015 to 2019. She also served as the ROPA Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Chair of the Orchestra Committee and Chair of the Negotiating Committee for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Players Association. Additionally, Stone is deeply passionate about supporting female, African American musicians who are affected by anxiety and IBS. Stone recently obtained her health coaching certificate, and she is continuing to further her work in this field. Among her many other goals, Stone plans to record an album that mixes classical and gospel music with a focus on bassoon and pianist instrumentation.

Stone’s musical journey began early in her childhood as a church member. Her mother, a minister of music in the Baptist church, exposed her and her sister to a variety of music, which sparked her lifelong passion in this field.

“Growing up in church, I was constantly seeing the power of music displayed. When it is played or sung, it’s like a wave that goes through the congregation…and you can tangibly feel the impact of it,” said Stone. “Music is beyond description. In a lot of ways, it’s humanity. We have that opportunity as musicians to channel its power, and when that happens, things change, hearts change, minds change…and something changes within us.”

Stone first became involved with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra in 2008, which is the group that accompanies the Sphinx Competition competitors in the final stages when they perform their chosen concertos. Since then, Stone has noted the organization’s tremendous growth as Sphinx now has a second orchestra, which Stone was a member of this year, that toured to the Kennedy Center.

“As a black or brown musician, one of the most amazing things is going into the first orchestra rehearsal and being surrounded by people who look like you. In the symphonic arts world, it’s common to be the only one. Sphinx was the first time I experienced that heightened sense of belonging. It was so empowering and made me feel like I actually had a place in this field.”

Due to grant funding provided by Sphinx, Stone has been able to play with different orchestras around the country, participate in auditions, pursue coaching opportunities and align with organizations like Sphinx that are striving to make DEI a core element of its principals. This has led her to joining the Jacksonville Symphony next season.

Stone is excited to play with the Symphony, meet more of the musicians and make Jacksonville her home for the 2023/24 season.

“I think the mission of symphonic organizations like the Jacksonville Symphony is to be open and accessible to everyone. While we can't ignore history, we must aim to rewire our society and exhibit equity and inclusion on all levels,” said Stone. “I think the Jacksonville Symphony specifically is really wanting to do the work. It is making the effort to find the holes that have been created and the places where blinders are up and remove these obstacles. The organization really wants to see how it can be a benefit to society and the world at large, which is what all orchestras should strive to do.”