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A CALL TO ACTION: Promoting and Preserving Women in the Field of Choral Conducting

regardless of the gender of the policymakers. Workplace for what you’re worth to bringing your unique
communities that prioritize flexibility, inclusivity, mutual talents to leadership. 54
respect, and support are key to fostering environments
where women can thrive personally and professionally. Bonding over shared experiences and creating an
Moreover, developing a network exclusively for women environment for open dialogue helps improve individual
is essential for fostering a supportive environment. well-being and strengthens our connections with each
Forums where women can share experiences, empower other. By addressing issues such as unconscious bias,
one another, and address challenges unique to their microaggressions, pay gaps, and the challenges of
gender are integral. In season three of conduct(her), balancing family and work, we can overcome these
Andrea Ramsey shared, “Tend and befriend, seek out cultural hurdles. As Marin Alsop says, “I have never
a cohort of women who will be a true support. We will go ascribed to the philosophy that it was tough for me
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further together.” This quote encapsulates a recurring so it will be tough for you. My philosophy is, ‘It was
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theme among our podcast guests and listeners: we need tough for me so that I could make it easier for you.’”
a network where women celebrate and uplift one another, Conversations about the sustainability of women
creating a sense of community previously missing in in the choral arts are necessary yet lacking. Leaders,
the choral world. Other support networks for women particularly our male colleagues, must take action to
include the organization Women in Choral Higher create an environment where women can thrive long
Education (WiCHEd), and Jocelyn Hagen’s podcast term in choral music, making the path easier for all
and composition series, Compose Like a Girl. who follow.
Historically, the misconception that only one woman
can succeed at the top has led to competition rather
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than collaboration. This stereotype has, unfortunately, Develop Best Practices
perpetuated cycles where women have been discouraged and Create Resources
from lifting each other up. Wilson reported a conversation In addition to fostering community, it is essential to
in her article between two female friends where one develop best practices and create resources that support
remarked, “You can’t be a good band director and a good the long-term success of women in choral conducting.
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mom.” Wilson noted that to the director, the comment As discussed earlier, one significant barrier to women’s
was unfounded but still hurtful, and another respondent longevity in the field is an ongoing lack of representation.
reported getting more “backlash” from women than men It is crucial to actively listen to the women in your space
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in the field. Research from the National Institute of and ask how you can support them with task management,
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Health, Forbes, and the Harvard Business Review mental load, and workplace environment. Consider
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validates the power of women supporting each other the following questions: Are you part of a committee,
in the workplace. While both men and women benefit an event organizer, or the leader of a student club or
from a network of peers, women experience significantly chapter? When was the last time you assessed gender
higher rates of success and career longevity when a representation in your organization? How often do you
network of close female friends is present. program music by women composers? Small, deliberate
actions to enhance representation—whether through
Women trying to rise up into leadership inclusive programming, equitable task distribution, or
face cultural and systemic hurdles that supporting women in leadership—have the power to
make it harder for them to advance, such as drive lasting change. By consistently making space for
unconscious bias. The study suggests that a women in these roles, we enable them to see themselves
way to overcome some of these hurdles is to in positions of influence and ensure their perspectives
form close connections with other women, are valued and their contributions are recognized.
who can share experiences from women who To truly increase the representation of women in
have been there, done that—from how to ask choral conducting, the field must take concrete steps to

40 CHORAL JOURNAL May 2025 Volume 65 Number 8