Klarinet Archive - Posting 000116.txt from 1999/02

From: Lisa Canjura-Clayton <lisakc@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Women and orchestras
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 17:45:50 -0500

Thanks to Ken, Don & Lelia for all chiming in on this.

I actually don't absolutely disagree with any one side on this. Actually, I
probably overstated my case way too much, but chalk that up to my love of
the Women's Phil.
;-)

Yes, I do think that women have become more visible in orchestras and
discrimination is waning, but Ken did mention "except the brass section."
In short, there is *still* more work to be done, and I do think the Women's
Phil helps break down stereotypes that women can't play traditionally
"male" instruments. The mission statement of the Women's Phil states, in
part, that the reason they exist in the first place is to promote women
musicians, composers and conductors. I don't think of it as ghettoization;
rather, I think of it as promotion. More power to the woman who can come
out of school and confidently get a job with, say, the SF Symphony. But
her female classmate who may or may not have that kind of talent and who
likes the mission of the Women's Phil should also have that kind of option,
too. Women HAVE had a LONG history of not being taken seriously as
musicians, composers and conductors. I just see institutions like the
Women's Phil as places where we can gain a little of that historical ground.

I'm with Ken on this: I don't like professional victims either. I
honestly don't think the Women's Phil presents themselves that way. I
probably presented my arguments that way, and I apologize for that. The
thing that impresses me about this group is the *promotion* that I
mentioned above. Please check out the website--
http://www.womensphil.org-- I think that'll give you more of an idea of
what they're about than I can.

Anyway, I could say more about how discrimination feels, about Don's
wonderful explanations of immersion and emmersion and how they've worked in
my musical life, but I think I'll pass on that-- talk about going way, way
off-topic.

Lisa

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org