Speaking at We Do This Work Together: Creating Pathways for Meaningful Action in the Face of Racial Injustice

Blake-Anthony Johnson is Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta, an 21st century orchestra acclaimed as a cultural leader in the field and a powerful champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A civically engaged leader and a champion of arts education, Johnson is a member of several organizations across the country that focus on the arts; eliminating intergenerational poverty; criminal justice reform; healthcare; and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

A former professional cellist and protégé of Michael Tilson Thomas at New World Symphony, Blake-Anthony is an accomplished musician who has performed with ensembles and at festivals in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. He holds degrees from Cleveland State University and Vanderbilt University as well as a certificate from Manhattan School of Music and a Certificate of Study in American Law from the University of Pennsylvania.