Redefining leadership in classical music: a three-year conducting program designed to nurture the next generation of women and non-binary conductors
Women in Musical Leadership (WML) is a three-year program designed to collectively develop the next generation of women and non-binary conductors and music directors in Canada.
Led by Tapestry Opera with lead orchestral partner Toronto Symphony Orchestra and lead partner Pacific Opera Victoria, the program addresses a historic gender inequity on the podium by providing women and non-binary conductors active mentorship with leading conductors in the field, deep and varied experience with professional companies, and a robust artistic network.
WML provides conductors with the opportunity to assist, observe, conduct, and build experience within a range of organizations in symphonic, chamber, operatic, and contemporary repertoire – giving conductors the professional experience and training that will enable them to take the podium anywhere in the world.
“This fellowship has given me the opportunity to work alongside and learn from so many companies across Canada. The experiences here have shown me new ways to explore my craft and completely transformed the trajectory of my career.”
Juliane Gallant, WML Year 1 Conductor
(Juliane Gallant leading rehearsals for Tapestry Opera’s 2021 world premiere of Gould’s Wall. Photo by Dahlia Katz.)
WHY WOMEN IN MUSICAL LEADERSHIP EXISTS:
DISRUPTING THE STATUS QUO
Canadian women occupy less than 3% of music director positions in Canadian orchestras.
Conductors and music directors occupy a rarefied position in the classical music world. These individuals provide musical leadership within an organization, oversee its artistic vision, act as an ambassador within the community, and help to create the musical culture of a place. There is power and artistic prestige associated with these roles. For this reason, it’s relevant to note that currently, Canadian women conductors occupy less than 3% of music director positions in major Canadian orchestras with budgets over 5 million dollars*.
In these orchestras, there are 37 titled roles for conductors. Of those 37 positions, only three are occupied by women conductors (8.1%). Of those three conductors, only one is Canadian (2.7%).
Only 14.8% of titled music director positions in Canadian orchestras are women
Only 15% of titled music director positions in Canadian opera companies are women
Representation is not everything, but it matters
In Canadian orchestras with budgets above 1 million dollars**, there are currently 61 titled positions for conductors and music directors. Of those 61, only 9 are occupied by women conductors (14.8%). Of those 9, only 4 are Canadian (7%). In the opera sector, within the 7 professional opera companies in Canada which have titled music director and conductor roles ✢, only 2 out of 13 positions are occupied by women (15%).
Why Tapestry?
Named by the Globe and Mail in 2019 as “Canada’s most reliable risk-takers”, Tapestry Opera positions itself as one of the industry’s most versatile and forward-thinking opera companies. Our values aim to foster innovative practices and bring positive and long-lasting impact to the sector by developing the generation of classical musical leaders in Canada.
“I remember asking a friend twenty- five years ago if she thought that my university would consider taking a woman into the conducting program. Thankfully, times have changed since then, but seeing a woman on the podium is still rare enough to be considered a novelty.”
Canadian conductor Rosemary Thomson (Artistic Director, Opera Kelowna)
Photo by Glenna Turnbull
*In Canadian orchestras with budgets over 5 million dollars. Roles include Music Director, Assistant Conductor, Associate/Resident Conductor, and roles such as MD Emeritus, Artist Partner (OM), Principal Guest Conductor, Artist-In-Residence and Community Ambassador, Principal Pops Conductor, Principal Education Conductor & Community Ambassador. Correct as of Jan 2022.
**As deemed by Orchestras Canada. Correct as of Jan 2022.
✢Including Music Director, Resident Conductor, Associate Conductor, Assistant Music Director, and Music Director Emeritus. Correct as of Jan 2022.
Our program and partners
The Women in Musical Leadership program creates opportunities and enriches the talent pool through a unique infrastructure that provides conductors with the necessary time, connections, support, and experience they need to establish themselves fully in the profession.
The program is for 6 conductors in cohorts of 2, beginning a year apart. We’ve partnered with symphonies, orchestras, chamber ensembles, music festivals, and opera companies across Canada to create practical opportunities for conductors to assist, observe, conduct, and build professional experience.
WML Year 3 Program Partners
“WML provides the opportunity to work with some of the finest arts organizations in the country. My time with Vancouver Opera and the Toronto Symphony this year has been amazing and invaluable to my development as a conductor. There is truly no other program like it in Canada!”
Jennifer Tung, WML Year 1 Conductor
(Jennifer Tung leading rehearsals for Vancouver Opera’s 2021 Orfeo and Euridice. Photo by Tim Matheson.)
Our People
Year 1 Cohort
Year 2 Cohort
Year 3 Cohort
Career Mentors
Conducting Advisors
Program Manager
Camille Rogers
Support Women in Musical Leadership
Women in Musical Leadership’s broader mission is to help change the longstanding gender imbalance in music direction and conducting in opera and classical music in Canada. Find out more about how you can support the program as an organization or an individual.
Applications and more information
Applications for Year 3 have closed.
Women in Musical Leadership is for self-identified women and non-binary conductors who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Generally, applicants will have completed advanced studies (or equivalent experience) in a primary instrument, have some previous conducting experience, and demonstrate readiness for professional opportunities and training. If you have questions about the Women in Musical Leadership program, including application eligibility, contact Women in Musical Leadership Program Manager Camille Rogers.
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Women in Musical Leadership is a project led by Tapestry Opera in partnership with Pacific Opera Victoria and Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
The numbers (correct January 2021
- 1Number of woman-identifying music directors currently in the top 10 Canadian opera companies.1
- 3 Number of woman-identifying resident assistant conductors currently in the top 12 Canadian symphony orchestras and the top 12 Canadian opera companies.2
- 4 Number of active woman-identifying professional conductors working in Canadian opera in the 2018/2019 season.3
- 1Number of woman-identifying music directors currently in the top 12 Canadian Symphony orchestras.4
- 1 Number of woman-identifying music directors or assistant conductors in the top 12 Canadian Symphony orchestras born and trained in Canada.5
- 2 Number of active woman-identifying professional conductors working in Canadian opera in the 2018/2019 season hired by Tapestry Opera.