Virtual Presentation by Dr. Kelsey Klotz

To be a woman in jazz (or a woman who enjoys jazz) is to contend with jazz patriarchy. Jazz patriarchy has developed its own language, values, and relationships, which determine what sounds were curated as “real” jazz, how women were depicted in jazz imagery and literature, which audiences were welcomed in which jazz spaces, which musicians were admitted to the jazz canon, and more. In this presentation, we will examine some of the myriad ways jazz patriarchy has been at work over the past century, focusing particularly on its impact on jazz’s audiences and musicians. Throughout, we will balance jazz patriarchy’s historical weight and impact with some of the work musicians like Terri Lyne Carrington and Esperanza Spalding have undertaken to redress its legacy.

Kelsey Klotz is an (ethno)musicologist specializing in jazz history, race and gender studies, and American cultural studies. She is Assistant Professor of Musicology and Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her PhD in Musicology from Washington University in St. Louis with a graduate certificate in American culture studies. Her work is motivated by her interests in creating inclusive music histories. Her recent book, Dave Brubeck and the Performance of Whiteness (Oxford University Press, 2023), is the first critical, book-length study of the role of whiteness in shaping jazz history. It uses jazz pianist Dave Brubeck’s mid-century performances of whiteness across his professional, private, and political lives as a starting point to understand mid-century whiteness, privilege, and white supremacy more fully. Drawing on archival records, recordings, and previously conducted interviews, Dave Brubeck and the Performance of Whiteness listens closely for the complex and shifting frames of mid-century whiteness, and how they shaped the experiences of Brubeck, his critics, and his audiences. She is currently working on a project titled jazz patriarchy, which examines how both spoken and unspoken gender norms historically defined the ways in which women could and could not participate in jazz, and how jazz was/is and was/is not defined.

VIRTUAL PRESENTATION BY KATHRYN RADAKOVICH

Nina Simone left an indelible mark upon not only American musical culture, but the world. The breadth of her impact is still seen today and is partially due to her refusal to be pigeon-holed into one definition or another. She was a genre-defying singer and pianist, composer, arranger, political activist, and a fashion icon, among other things. In this presentation, we’ll explore the rich tapestry of her music and how Nina Simone not only managed to inhabit these many roles, sometimes simultaneously, but became celebrated for it.

Biography

Kathryn Radakovich is a highly sought after vocalist in both classical and jazz genres. She can be found performing with the nation’s top ensembles (Roomful of Teeth, Lorelei Ensemble, Santa Fe Desert Chorale), soloing with chamber orchestras and symphonies (Choral Arts Philadelphia, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Colorado Chamber Players), leading a jazz quintet (Kathryn Radakovich Quintet Presents: Nina Simone), or debuting new jazz albums (“Flowers of Evil” by Annie Booth featuring Kathryn Radakovich). As a longtime educator, Kathryn has worked with students of all ages and ability levels in myriad settings, including grade school, college, and beyond. Whether coaching students one-on-one, directing an ensemble, or leading a masterclass, Kathryn is a passionate and engaging educator who believes in accessibility and opportunity for all in music.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

Partnered with Tulane University Libraries, this month's Wikithon will focus on composers of the Gulf South.

Virtual Presentation by Jill Rogers

In this talk, I read Farrenc’s Nonet (1850) through the lens of her feminist praxis. After detailing French feminist thought in the mid-nineteenth century, I look to Conservatoire archival records and French periodicals to show that Farrenc enacted her feminism through supporting her female Conservatoire piano students in their careers, mainly through teaching them composition at a time when the Conservatoire didn’t allow female students to take composition courses and giving them opportunities to showcase their talents publicly. Then, I turn to the Nonet, which, through quoting Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony and presenting a Beethovenien style, not only puts forth a feminist statement regarding women’s musical abilities, but also provides a critique of her Conservatoire colleague Henri Herz. This talk sheds new light on a composer whose teaching practices and politics have largely been ignored in musicological scholarship.

Virtual Presentation by Dr. Joy-Leilani Garbutt

The years surrounding the turn of the 20th century were a musically fruitful time in France. Developments in instrument building, a thriving concert scene, and a robust music education system provided the groundwork for artistic flourishing. Yet, little is known about the ways in which women were an active part of this musical landscape. This presentation will introduce the lives and music of several composers, active between the 1870s to the 1940s.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

This month’s theme is 19th-century French women composers featuring Louis Farrenc and her contemporaries.

Virtual Presentation by Olivia Ren

The path to performance librarianship is not always clear. Whether locating works by historically marginalized composers, addressing errata and copyright, or navigating the daily operations of an orchestra, this role can be tricky. Join Redefining the Canon Program Coordinator Olivia Ren in a virtual presentation about what it means to be a performance librarian and how to be an advocate for marginalized composers in the stacks.

Virtual Presentation by Katherine Skovira

The compositions of women composer-singers such as Colbran and Viardot are powerful vehicles for the exploration of vocal identity and vocal writing, in ways that voice science is still uncovering. This talk will describe current practices and emerging technologies, introduce a data-driven and ongoing analysis of familiar power structures, and illuminate an inquiry into the embodied experience of writing and performing by and for women's voices. This study casts doubt on the efficacy of the existing Fach System and recommends a redress beginning with female-assigned voices based on a new data-driven method of vocal analysis and voice typing.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

Coinciding with the launch of our Baroque curriculum for Music Inclusion Hub, this Wikithon aims to bring essential updates and enhancements to the Wikipedia pages of Baroque composers Isabella Leonarda, Isabelle de Charrière (Belle van Zuylen), Lady Mary Dering, Leonora Duarte, and Vittoria Aleotti.

Early modern women composers enjoyed tremendous success creating new works in convents, courts, academies, and domestic settings. From their pens we have groundbreaking contributions to nearly every major musical genre of the time, although their accomplishments have often been omitted from historical narratives. In this presentation, we will explore the various venues in which these women worked and take a deep dive into the ways their compositions helped shape the trajectory of Western classical music.

Dr. Paula Maust is a performer, scholar, and educator committed to fusing research and creative practice to amplify underrepresented voices. She is the creator of Expanding the Music Theory Canon, an open-source collection of music theory examples by historical women and/or people of color that is used around the world. A print anthology based on the project was released by SUNY Press in December 2023. Paula is also an early modern editor for Oxford University Press’s women, gender, and sexuality revision of Grove Music Online. As a harpsichordist and organist she co-directs Musica Spira, a baroque chamber ensemble dedicated to telling the stories of early modern women musicians. Paula also performs extensively in the Baltimore, MD—Washington, D.C. area with numerous ensembles, including the Washington Bach Consort and the Folger Consort. She is currently working on a recording of works by Isabella Leonarda and Maria Perucona with Musica Spira, and her debut solo album featuring Elizabeth Turner’s 1756 Lessons for the Harpsichord is expected to be released next year. Paula is an Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. More info: paulamaust.com

Join us for a tour of the industry-changing educational resources that the Music Inclusion Hub provides, and an in-depth look at the curriculum guides and database access contributed by Boulanger Initiative.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

Join us as we make much-needed updates and improvements to the Wikipedia pages of Grazyna Bacewicz, Lucrecia Roces Kasilag, Nobu Koda, Emilie Mayer, and Maddalena Laura Sirmen, all of whom were composers for violin.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

The featured composers will be: 

• Marianna Bottini (1802-1858)

• Nora Holt (1884/5-1974)

• Azucena Maizani (1902 - 1970)

• Fredrikke Egeberg (1815-1861)

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

With Wikithon will focus on composers for horn!

A sustainable musical practice has creativity, growth, and collaboration at its core, and requires a safe, inclusive, and accessible environment in which to thrive. Participants of this workshop will be encouraged to explore creativity in their own musical practice in new ways, learn how to foster creativity in their students’ education, and be presented with some best practices in creating inclusive musical spaces. This workshop will be valuable for all artists, arts leaders, educators, and musical collaborators of any kind!

This workshop will be presented by Megan DiGeorgio.

These workshops are pay-what-you-wish. Please consider contributing an amount so that we may continue to offer this programming.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

Composers for April 25 Wikithon:

• Valerie Capers (1935- )

• Betty Jackson King (1928-1994)

• Linda Catlin Smith (1957- )

• Keiko Abe (1937- )

• Angélica Negrón (1981- )

• Jocelyn Hagen (1980- )

• Jean Eichelberger Ivey (1923-2010)

• Dorothy Rudd Moore (1940-2022)

• Camille Nickerson (1888-1982)

• Dina Koston (1929?-2009)

• Boni Boyer (1958-1996)

How can we unlock and demystify the role of the composer? Graphic notation can empower anyone to connect to their inner creativity. Starting with a simple line drawing, we will work through the compositional process, ending with the thrilling experience of performing a piece written by YOU! Participants will use paper and coloring materials and be guided to represent an improvised sound/gesture in two dimensional form, which will then be workshopped and performed. A discussion will also be held to frame the workshop, asking listeners to consider the question of ownership in composition, their relationships to their own bodies, trees, dreams, sources of creativity, and memories. All ages are welcome; bring coloring materials and optionally, a musical instrument!

This workshop will be presented by Simone Baron.

These workshops are pay-what-you-wish. Please consider contributing an amount so that we may continue to offer this programming.

Join us on Thursday, March 20 at 6pm ET for our first virtual workshop of 2023! In honor of Black History Month, we will be exploring the lives and music of three historical BIPOC women composers from around the world. Join us as we listen to their music, learn about their lives, and celebrate their legacies. This workshop will be presented by Boulanger Initiative's Director of Education Advancement, Megan DiGeorgio.

In this workshop, participants will gain a greater awareness of the ways in which women and other gender-marginalized composers entwine their passion for social rights with their love for music. Participants will also strengthen their understanding of how to engage with social causes that are meaningful to them within musical contexts.

This workshop will be presented by Marco Pflanzen.

These workshops are pay-what-you-wish. Please consider contributing an amount so that we may continue to offer this programming.

After years in the making, we are so excited to announce the launch of our open-access Women and Gender Marginalized Composers Repertoire Database!

The database addresses gender disparity and aids those who wish to diversify classical music programming by providing knowledge and resources to seek out works by underrepresented composers. It currently houses over 8,000 historical works by 1,200 nonliving women composers, all available for free!

Check out this short video about the database to get an idea of how YOU can use it for your organization or performances!

Join us for our virtual launch event on March 13th at 3pm ET! We'll give a tour of the Database, and show you how it all works and the best ways to utilize this incredible tool.

Be one of the first to witness the incredible impact of Boulanger Initiative’s Database!

To celebrate Black History Month, the February BI Wikithon will focus on historical composers of color. We will be editing the Wikipedia pages of Chiquinha Gonzaga, Carmen Brouard, Shirley Graham Du Bois, Avril Coleridge-Taylor, Zenobia Powell Perry, and others.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

BI’s final workshop of 2022 is a guest lecture with BI’s Research and Repertoire Consultant, Melissa Wertheimer. Melissa is a Music Reference Specialist in the Library of Congress Music Division and in her workshop, she will cover the why’s and how’s of being a user of archives, tips on finding primary sources about women composers, understanding and applying special vocabulary you’ll find in your research, and strategies to using finding aids, catalogs, and digital collections!

The first of two December workshops is a culmination of the past fall workshops, focusing on the programming aspect of music. For performers, educators, and musicians involved in the decision making process behind curating performances, come to this workshop to learn a variety of best practices. This workshop’s focus is on inclusive programming and learning how to program with intentionality, putting the music and diversity at the forefront of our programming. Leave this workshop knowing new composers and feeling confident about programming your upcoming recitals and concerts!

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

Growth and Development Month continues with a discussion and workshop on creating original music, with a focus on education. This session will go in-depth into why creating original music is important, especially for students, and includes a hands-on activity that will help to unlock your inner composer. Everyone is welcome, but educators are particularly encouraged to attend!

Growth and Development Month begins by examining methods of creating an inclusive classroom and curriculum. Educators and arts leaders of any kind will learn about the best practices for creating an inclusive space for their students, as well as ways to incorporate diversity and inclusion into their lesson/session planning. We will show you where to start and how to build this into a sustainable practice.

Expanding the collective understanding of the contributions and impact of gender-marginalized composers is integral to cultivating inclusivity and representation in music. Wikipedia is one of the most accessible platforms when it comes to raising awareness; however, many of the articles present overstate the family and relationships of gender-marginalized composers while severely understating their professional achievements.

BI's monthly Wikithons are designed to improve the coverage of gender-marginalized composers on Wikipedia by improving pages, updating language, and providing more extensive information surrounding the individuals and their music. All events include a brief tutorial, editing support, and everything you need to get started in making an impact! People of all gender identities and expressions are invited to participate.

Continuing Research Month includes a deep dive into the lives and music of Irmgard Farden Aluli, Louise Farrence, and Zenobia Powell Perry. BI’s Research and Education departments team up to not only share information on the lives of some amazing composers, but show the process behind the research they did, including how and where they began. This second workshop leads into our first fall Wikithon, which involves the opportunity to update Wikipedia articles of many gender-marginalized composers, including the ones in this workshop!

To start off our Research Month, we’ll take a look into the process behind researching composers. Join BI Director of Research Ashley Killam in learning where to find information on the composers, where and how to find works lists, and how to go about obtaining music! Musicians will leave with a variety of angles to go about initial research, as well as where to turn when finding hard to access pieces.