CJ Replay: Successful Women Conductors

“All too often, a women’s choir is a kind of leftover group, seen as a fallback for singers who are not selected for a mixed ensemble or for less experienced singers at the freshmen level of high school or college. Competition with other ensembles at the school or in the community is made more difficult by the traditional acceptance of mixed choruses as better or more select, therefore more desirable to listen to, and also by the seeming preference for men’s groups over women’s. Whether because the repertoire is perceived as more appealing to an audience, or because the sound of a TTBB chorus is thought to be more attractive, women’s choruses rarely seem to get top billing. The result can be frustrating to female singers, who feel their efforts are not rewarded without more visible audience support. Living in the Midwest, where men’s choruses are historically strong and very popular, and where there are many fine TTBB groups with high visibility, I have seen this firsthand. Likewise, I know well the effects that phenomenon can have on women’s choruses. The women’s choir conductor, however, can avert potential morale problems in several ways, primarily by promoting musical excellence.”

 

(from the Choral Journal article “Practices of Successful Woman Conductors,” by Hilary Apfelstadt)