Centering Women's Work in 2025
Making Resolutions to Support the Work of Women
Welcome to a new year - and new opportunities to support and celebrate the work of women and non-binary folks in music. As we move forward into the new year, and the concerns that go along with the coming changes - known and unknown - it is easy to feel cynical or overwhelmed. Yet, as we face so much that we can’t control, it’s important to focus on what WE CAN!
We can all do our part to help build the world we want - including advocating for more diverse and accessible orchestral programming, whether that is in the orchestras in your own community, on your local classical radio station, or being proactive in seeking out and intentionally listening to women composers whose work you don’t know.
One great way to start is to share this newsletter with someone who might also be interested in building these positive and necessary changes. Though it may seem insignificant, change happens through small, collective action. We can make tremendous change by collectively working towards equity in classical music!
A First for the Vienna New Year’s Concert
The New York Times reported on a notable first for the annual New Year’s concert that the Vienna Philharmonic performed last week. A historically conservative ensemble - which has created headlines for decades surrounding its exceptionally slow inclusion of women musicians in the ensemble, as well as at the podium - we can now celebrate the first composition by a woman to be included in this annual event.
With a history dating back to the 1940’s, this tradition has been celebrated worldwide, with broadcasts in 90 countries. This year the program of Strauss waltzes and polkas also included the Ferdinandus Waltz, op. 10 by Constance Geiger.
A contemporary of Johann Strauss (Sr. and Jr.), both of whom conducted performances of her works, Geiger was a prodigy pianist who began performing her own compositions publicly at just the age of eight. The Ferdinandus Waltz, op. 10 that was heard on New Year’s day was composed when she was only twelve.
It’s wonderful to see her work being performed and celebrated after too many years spent without any notable performances. It is also wonderful that a new biography of Geiger’s life has been published by Hollitzer. Written by Austrian violinist Raimund Lissy, the book serves to honor Geiger’s legacy, and to celebrate her music in the context of the Austrian tradition.
January Concerts & Events
On January 24 the Ann Arbor Symphony under the direction of Earl Lee will perform Andrea Casarrubios’s “colorful and dynamically juxtaposed” Herencia.
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will perform Polina Nazaykinskaya’s Winter Bells on January 16 & 18. The symphonic poem will be included on a program of Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky.
On January 9, 11, & 12 the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will include Anna Clyne’s Glasslands in a concert that will also include the work of composer in residence James Lee III.
On January 14 the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will perform at St. John’s College in Annapolis as part of their “Music For Maryland” series, which allowed the BSO to present a concert in each of Maryland’s counties over a three year period. Included on the Jan 14 concert is Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst.
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago will include Jessie Montgomery’s Transfigure to Grace on a program presented January 19 & 20.
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will present Unsuk Chin’s subito con forza on January 11 & 12. Also included on the program are Rachmaninoff and Copland.
On events held January 23-26 the Dallas Symphony will include Hannah Eisendle’s Heliosis on their program that will also feature R. Strauss and Berlioz.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra will present Camille Pepin’s Les Eaux célestes on January 16-18. Also included on the program are works by Stravinsky and Shostakovich.
On Jan 31, Feb 1 and Feb 2 the Detroit Symphony will center the work of Florence Price, including both her Violin Concerto No. 2 (with soloist Randall Goosby) and her Adoration on the program. The February 1 performance with STREAM LIVE for free! (8 pm, EST)
The Houston Symphony will perform Anna Thorvaldsdóttir’s Metacosmos under the direction of Tabita Berglund January 24 - 26.
On January 30 and February 2 the LA Philharmonic, under the direction of Susanna Mälkki, will perform Kaija Saariaho’s last completed work, the trumpet concerto entitled HUSH. The work is a LA commission, and this performance marks the U.S. premiere.
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will include Anna Clyne’s Within Her Arms on their concerts held January 24 & 25.
The Minnesota Orchestra will include both Elfrida Andrée’s Concert Overture and Outi Tarkiainen’s Midnight Sun Variations on their concerts January 10 & 11.
On January 31 and February 1 the Minnesota Orchestra will also perform Du Yun’s Kraken in a concert that includes works by Liszt and Dvořák.
The National Symphony Orchestra will perform Gabriela Ortiz’s Téenek – Invenciones de Territorio on January 16-18.
The Philadelphia Orchestra will include Margaret Bonds Montgomery Variations on their concerts January 16-18. Also included on the program is William Grant Still’s second symphony.
The following weekend, January 23-26, The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform Kaija Saariaho’s Graal théâtre, for violin and orchestra, featuring Carolin Widmann on violin.
The Pittsburgh Symphony will perform María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir’s Oceans on January 10 & 12, paired, of course, with Debussy’s La Mer.
The San Diego Symphony will include Gabriella Smith’s Bioluminescence Chaconne and Augusta Holmès “La nuit et l’amour” from Ludus pro patria on their concert held January 10 & 11.
The following weekend, January 17 & 18, the San Diego Symphony will present Anna Clyne’s Color Field.
The San Fransisco Symphony will include Missy Mazzoli’s Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres) on their concert held January 9 - 11.
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will present the World Premiere of Nina Shekhar’s Accordion Concerto January 10 & 11.
The Utah Symphony will include Elizabeth Ogonek’s Moondog on their events held January 10 & 11.
Have an event you want to be included in a future Newsletter? Contact us below!