Women's Philharmonic Advocacy's Indiegogo campaign will fund our Performance Grants program that supports U.S. orchestras who agree to program music by women composers.
For over 20 years, The Women’s Philharmonic promoted and celebrated the work of women composers, performers
and conductors. When the orchestra
disbanded in 2004, some of us decided to carry on a much-needed
part of their mission: to encourage other orchestras to perform music by women . Women’s Philharmonic Advocacy is devoted to that goal: "leveling the playing field" for women composers.
In 2012, we started our performance grant program, giving $18,000 to 26
different orchestras all over the United States. They performed music ranging from historic
composers -- Clara Schumann, Amy Beach, and Lili Boulanger -- to successful
living composers – including Chen Yi, Libby Larsen, and Joan Tower – and also student
composers just launching their career such as Emily Koh and Alexandra Bryant.
We plan to give our grants again this fall. One hundred percent of the money raised through our Indiegogo
campaign will go to U.S. orchestras who agree to program music composed by
women composers. Statistics from the League of American Orchestras
prove this need is great: less than ONE
PERCENT of the music performed by U.S. orchestras is composed by women. It’s not because the
music doesn’t exist. Rather it’s because of our entrenched habits of
accepting the “standard” repertoire, and the prejudices of the past that defined
creative power as a male attribute.
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Amy Beach, featured in our $500 and $1000 perks.
Our 2012 campaign raised a great deal of interest in the work of women composers. We received a range of inquiries, which
revealed that many lack knowledge about the achievements of women in music, and
are eager to learn.
The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra (of
Tennessee) wrote to us saying:
Our
[orchestral] library of 220 pieces only has three pieces composed by women. We
would like to add to the body of literature written by women for youth
orchestras…. We hope our concert will address this issue and prompt our
orchestra members, patrons and community members to consider the importance of
women in music ....
Many people asked us for suggestions and recommendations of
music. We are working to make available
the legacy of TWP, who after all, performed around 300 different works by
women from all historical periods. We
field questions about repertoire and point the concert planners to the
libraries, publishers and distributors who have the materials.
Our second grant program, planned for fall 2014 in what we
envision as a biennial program, will
grow on the outreach and excitement generated by the first. With
your generous support we will be able to offer more grants; and we will
continue to plan for half the funds to go to youth or student orchestras! We are organized under the fiscal umbrella of The Rebecca Clarke Society, inc, a 501 (c) 3; your donation is tax deductible according to U.S. law, and all of your donation will be used to support the WPA Performance Grants.
Even if you are unable to donate, you can help us by getting the word out about our campaign to all your friends! Use the Indiegogo Share tools, and also be sure and look at our website, www.wophil.org. Your support and encouragement increases the recognition of women's creative ability and brings their work to audiences across the country.
FYI, you can donate without accepting a perk. And also we will be adding to our offering of perks, so check back. And PLEASE share this campaign with your friends!
'Jazz' by Lorraine Curtis
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