For the first time in its 180-year history, women outnumber men 45 to 44 in New York’s most renowned orchestra.
Considering it wasn’t that long ago that there were no women’s dressing rooms at New York Philharmonic’s Lincoln Centre, the news establishes the historic orchestra as gender balanced.
What they’re saying
- Maestra, a campaign group for women in music and music theatre industries called this “a HUGE moment for female musicians.”
- The New York Times described the news as a “sea change”.
Timeline
- The first female member of the Philharmonic was harpist Stephanie Goldner, age 26, in 1922
- Double bassist Orin O’Brien joined the orchestra in 1966
- After 1970, the gender imbalance gradually shifted over the ensuing decades
Although true equality has been a long time coming, many pioneering female musicians have made significant breakthroughs with help from the Philharmonic. These artists include violinist Maud Powell and composers Amy Beach and Cécile Chaminade.
Michael Vincent is the Editor-in-chief Ludwig Van and CEO of Museland Media. He publishes regularly and writes occasionally. A specialist in digital media for over 15 years, he has worked as a senior editor and is a former freelance classical music critic for the Toronto Star. Michael holds a Doctorate in Music from the University of Toronto.
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