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Leading Women

With our Leading Women in Music Fund we are eager to contribute to a stronger representation of female conductors and composers at the top of international symphony orchestras. For potential donors we are organizing an informative session featuring inspiring (female) speakers on 19 October, prior to the concert conducted by Karina Canellakis.
Karina Canellakis, image: Chris Christodoulou
Karina Canellakis, image: Chris Christodoulou

Saturday, 19 October

Following the successful launch of the Leading Women in Music Fund last April, we are organising a second gathering on Saturday, 19 October. We will welcome our guests at 7 p.m at our home base, RCO House, located at Gabriël Metsustraat 16. We will share some insights about the orchestra and the motivation behind the establishment of our Leading Women in Music Fund.

After the introductions, drinks, and a tour of the premises, we will head to The Concertgebouw to listen to the Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Karina Canellakis. The concerts in October 2024, made possible in part by the Leading Women in Music Fund, mark her debut with us.

We hope this evening inspires you to support the Concertgebouw Orchestra by joining the Leading Women in Music Fund. There are a limited number of places available for this special evening. If you are interested, please send an email to foundation@concertgebouworkest.nl.

Stimulating and developing female talent

In recent years, the number of female conductors and composers at the Concertgebouw Orchestra has been increasing rapidly. This season, Elim Chan,  Karina Canellakis, Simone Young en Han-Na Chang are conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the coming months the programme features works by composers such as Ellen Reid, Liza Lim, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Dutch composer Renske Vrolijk. However, while the number of female orchestra members and soloists is in line with broad societal developments, female composers and conductors are still underrepresented in orchestras.

The aim of the Leading Women in Music Fund is to enhance the international representation of female conductors and composers at the top. We want to achieve this by bringing them more into the spotlight, promoting inspiring role models, scouting and mentoring female talent, and, of course, facilitating productions with female conductors and composers.

With your support

Donations to this fund are entirely earmarked to all the activities necessary to achieve this goal. We welcome everyone who would like to contribute. Donors can join the donations programme of the Concertgebouw Orchestra as Patron, for example.

Would you like to contribute to better ratios at the symphonic top? Please contact the Development department of the Concertgebouw Orchestra:

Leading Women in Music Fund

Female conductors and composers