Orchestras and festivals urged to use more women composers

FESTIVALS and orchestras in Scotland are being urged to increase their representation of female composers.

An event at Aberdeen’s Sound festival of new music today is to cast a spotlight on the comparative lack of work by women being featured in music festivals.

Lucy Hollingworth, a composer studying at the Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire, who will chair the debate, said that orchestras and festivals need to pay more attention to female composers in their repertoires and concerts.

She pointed to the BBC Proms recent performance of the work of the late Welsh composer, Morfydd Owen, as an example of female composers who have hitherto been overlooked and whose music has benefitted from increased exposure.

She said: “We are not just talking about modern music, there are composers from earlier times that have been overlooked. Small examples of recognition can have such a large impact.

“I think the number one issue, is that I would like people who are able to make these decisions to look at the world of music as it is, not as they think it is.”

The discussion at St Andrew’s Cathedral will take place after the performance of new works by five women composers: Lisa Robertson, Aileen Sweeney, Electra Perivolaris, Ms Hollingworth, and Sarah Rimkus, given by members of Red Note Ensemble

Ms Hollingworth drew attention to recent article by the US composer Emily Doolittle.

It says that although 36 per cent of composition students are women, 21% of commissions go to women, and only 7% of orchestral commissions– likely to be the highest paid – go to women.