Aug 26, 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Right to Vote in the United States…how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to go. In some fields, the sexes have achieved balance, but in the music industry, there is still a ways to go. Sadly, because of the pandemic, many celebrations, premieres and commissions have been tabled or will be rescheduled once things open up.
Why is it that composers are only thought of as men? Why is it that male composers are the ones that get programmed? Why are we stuck in our programming, always looking backwards rather than forward?
It’s time for enlightened leadership at the top, (Exec Directors, Presidents, Artistic Directors, Programming) where these decisions are being made so that what we bring to audiences is a more honest representation of our culture, our world, our time.
Why is history, his story? Have we not evolved?? It’s time for ComposHers to be heard !! They’ve been around a long time, centuries in fact.
The elitism/classism that’s so rampant in classical music needs to make way for new ideas and works that reflect something other than dead, white, Western European males. Honoring our heritage and masterworks are crucial to the art form, just as imperative as being open to new ideas whose time has come.
My challenge: For those of us who have some control over programming, let’s make an effort to bring a female voice to each concert we do this year, each student we teach, etc. “Consider the Ladies”.
Some great talent I’ve been enjoying recently, give a listen…
-Jessie Montgomery
-Nina Simone
-Maria Schneider
-Margaret Brouwer
-Monica Houghton
-Louise Farrenc
-Lili Boulanger
-Valerie Coleman
-Jennifer Higdon