My latest post in the Women’s Orchestra Series considers the Women’s Orchestra of Arizona (WOA), founded in 2016 by Livia Gho to provide musical opportunities that empower women musicians and benefit the greater community.
The orchestra is open to teen and adult women from all walks of life who are looking to play in a stimulating and supportive environment. After an audition they are welcomed to come as they are, with no fee required. Concert audiences are also welcome to come without purchasing tickets, with WOA running a “pay what works for you” model instead, allowing concertgoers to decide after the performance how much they want to pay for the experience and donate as they exit. While not economically sustainable for all orchestras, this allows WOA to be accessible to everyone and fight the stigma (and sometimes genuine problems) of concerts being too elitist. Another method they use to do this is by encouraging audiences to wear whatever they feel comfortable in, whether that’s jeans or pearls!
WOA performs a wide variety of works, both honouring the classical tradition while also highlighting the works of female composers. Guest artists and soloists who perform during their concerts also represent a wide demographic range and experience level. Soloists include members of the orchestra, talented teens or visiting guest artists from around the country or abroad, all with the same aim of showcasing the talents of female musicians and composers. If you’re interested to see them perform, I’d encourage you to watch some of their concert clips here: https://womens-orchestra-arizona.org/videos-clips .
Another way WOA give opportunities to female composers is by hosting composition competitions. The competition provides opportunities for women composers to have an original orchestral work premiered by an all-female orchestra and the goal is to support and encourage Arizonian women composers. One such example is 2019 winner, Diane Sullivan, whose winning piece Pas de Deux was premiered by the orchestra on April 14th 2019 and met with rave reviews.
As such, whether by offering opportunities, accessibility or supportive environments, it is clear WOA positively impact not only women musicians, but their whole community.
If you’re enjoying these blogs please feel free to get in touch to ask more about women’s orchestras or request my full dissertation to read.
References:
Women’s Orchestra of Arizona (no date). About. Available at: https://womens-orchestra-arizona.org/about (Accessed: 22nd November 2024).
Women’s Orchestra of Arizona (no date). Press. Available at: https://womens-orchestra-arizona.org/press (Accessed: 22nd November 2024).
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