France Launches Effort to Right Classical Music's Gender Imbalance
2020-09-22
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1Very few women occupy leadership positions in the world of classical music.
2In fact, only about six percent of professional classical music orchestras are headed by women.
3Now, in France, there is an effort to increase the number of women leading orchestras.
4It is an international competition in Paris called La Maestra.
5The event gives women conductors a chance to show off their skills.
6Over 200 women -- from Asia, Europe and the Americas -- are taking part in the competition.
7The winner will be announced later this month.
8Laurent Bayle is director of the Paris Philharmonic.
9He says the winner and those who place highly will get two years of intensive mentoring and other support.
10Many observers say there is a need for that kind of support.
11Women head nearly 40 percent of orchestras in Belgium, but only three percent of French orchestras have female conductors.
12In the United States, only eight percent of orchestra conductors are women.
13The Paris Philharmonic, known in French as the Philharmonie de Paris, is doing better.
14About 30 percent of its visiting conductors this season are women, an increase from a few years ago.
15A mix of reasons, from historical to cultural, are said to be responsible for women's lack of advancement in the classical music field.
16Bayle noted that in France, for example, the country's egalitarian system disapproves of actions designed mainly to help women and minority groups.
17Claire Gilbault is one of France's few female conductors.
18She heads the Paris Mozart Orchestra, which helped to organize the competition.
19She told VOA that men head all major musical organizations and like to share power among themselves.
20La Maestra changes that. Its jury has an equal number of men and women and is led by a female conductor.
21But for this all-women competition, performance is the most important criteria.
22Twenty-nine-year-old Sara Caneva from Italy was the first candidate to perform.
23She noted that the coronavirus pandemic has made the competition more difficult.
24"It's the first, it's after a long time without conducting because of the lockdown, she said.
25Holly Hyun Choe from the United States felt better about her performance. She currently works as a conductor in Switzerland.
26"Of course, that has to come with a lot of luck and a lot of hard work, and your own talent."
27The Philharmonic's Bayle said the goal of the event is to get other European orchestras to invite these conductors to perform.
28I'm Susan Shand.
1Very few women occupy leadership positions in the world of classical music. In fact, only about six percent of professional classical music orchestras are headed by women. 2Now, in France, there is an effort to increase the number of women leading orchestras. It is an international competition in Paris called La Maestra. The event gives women conductors a chance to show off their skills. 3Over 200 women -- from Asia, Europe and the Americas -- are taking part in the competition. The winner will be announced later this month. 4Laurent Bayle is director of the Paris Philharmonic. He says the winner and those who place highly will get two years of intensive mentoring and other support. 5Many observers say there is a need for that kind of support. Women head nearly 40 percent of orchestras in Belgium, but only three percent of French orchestras have female conductors. In the United States, only eight percent of orchestra conductors are women. 6The Paris Philharmonic, known in French as the Philharmonie de Paris, is doing better. About 30 percent of its visiting conductors this season are women, an increase from a few years ago. 7A mix of reasons, from historical to cultural, are said to be responsible for women's lack of advancement in the classical music field. Bayle noted that in France, for example, the country's egalitarian system disapproves of actions designed mainly to help women and minority groups. 8Claire Gilbault is one of France's few female conductors. She heads the Paris Mozart Orchestra, which helped to organize the competition. She told VOA that men head all major musical organizations and like to share power among themselves. 9La Maestra changes that. Its jury has an equal number of men and women and is led by a female conductor. 10But for this all-women competition, performance is the most important criteria. 11Twenty-nine-year-old Sara Caneva from Italy was the first candidate to perform. She noted that the coronavirus pandemic has made the competition more difficult. 12"It's the first, it's after a long time without conducting because of the lockdown, she said. 13Holly Hyun Choe from the United States felt better about her performance. She currently works as a conductor in Switzerland. 14"Of course, that has to come with a lot of luck and a lot of hard work, and your own talent." 15The Philharmonic's Bayle said the goal of the event is to get other European orchestras to invite these conductors to perform. 16I'm Susan Shand. 17VOA's Lisa Bryant reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 18________________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20professional - adj. not amateurs, those with the highest skills 21orchestra - n. a group of musicians who play compositions 22mentor - v. to teach and assist 23conductor - n. the leader of an orchestra 24advancement - n. to move forward or higher in a system 25egalitarian - adj. the idea that all should be treated equal 26criteria - n. the skills that are judged in a competition 27lockdown - n. forcing people to stay indoors to avoid a contagious disease