McKinnon Secondary College
At this year’s House Music competition, something incredible happened. Something that is still rare in the professional world - many of our student conductors were girls.
Yet, in the professional music world, women make up less than 10% of conductors and music directors worldwide. It’s a shocking statistic, especially when so many talented girls are stepping up to the podium in school competitions like ours. Why does this gap exist? Is it a lack of role models, opportunities, or just old traditions that are slow to change?
This March for Women's History Month, American superstar Marin Alsop and her TakiConcordia Fellowship have launched a campaign to raise awareness about the gender disparity in conducting and to celebrate the talented female leaders in music with the hashtag #purplebaton.
It is designed to showcase inspiring stories, highlight female conductors, and encourage more girls to step up and take the baton, just like our fabulous instrumental music conductors at McKinnon - Clare Bugeja, Amelia In, Laura Main, Georgina Mead, Megan Papworth, Lindsay Ryan, Tracy Videon and Blanka West.
Let’s make sure the confidence and passion we saw at House Music don’t stop at school.
Let’s support each other in changing the future of conducting. Because music deserves to be led by the best - no matter their gender.
Lindsay Ryan
Conductor and Horn teacher