ABSTRACT
Perhaps it is not surprising that Antonia Brico’s debut as conductor of the New York Philharmonic made the news in the 1930s, but why the strikingly similar headlines nearly 70 years later? The twentieth century was a time of significant change for women instrumentalists, but change is not always easy. Like any field with segregated roots, instrumental ensemble integration has been a long, painful process that initially involved pioneers who possessed the talent and the personality necessary to endure discrimination and harassment. To explore the topic of women in instrumental music, it is important to highlight the work of some of those pioneers, as well as to learn about women who elected to remain in gender-segregated ensembles. The chapter begins with a look at global connotations of power in instrumental music, then narrows the focus by looking at gender integration of Western professional orchestras. The chapter concludes with a segment celebrating the empowerment of women who perform in segregated taiko ensembles in America and Canada.
