“ I must thank Angela Draghicescu for the organization of this exciting new series, and to the Seattle Symphony for its tireless work on behalf of our city’s artists and its support for this show” ”
Women Who Score started at as an idea for a benefit concert at the University Unitarian Church in Seattle in 2017. Inspired by the remarkable music and life of Louise Farrenc, I felt compelled to showcase the stories and works of other artists that were silenced due to endemic inequality. The result was a unique series of concerts with audience interaction and guest speakers, focused on the lives and works of female composers and their unique struggle to be recognized based on their merit.
With a partnership at Seattle Symphony’s Benaroya Hall, the series opened on March 11th, 2018 and has become a cultural phenomenon with programs and concerts throughout the United States, and internationally in Canada (Place des Arts) and Finland (Musikkitalo). WWS is proud to have received ongoing support from Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci and Seattle’s Mayor Jenny Durkan. As a non-profit organization WWS’s mission is to celebrate the female existence through partnering with artists and organizations that share our values and mission. Concert proceedings benefit the Women’s Foundation, Powerful Voices Foundation, and the Women’s Program for Refugees International, uniting the human experience through the power of music in a nurturing environment. 2022-2023 season includes world premieres by Niloufar Ihrabani (Iran), Libby Larsen, Zosha di Castri (Canada) and a Norwegian Art Song Tour sponsored through the Norwegian Composer’s Grant.
“If a society’s worth is judged on how conducive it is to the cultivation and development of creative and artistic genius, then the incredibly talented women composers can serve as a cautionary tale. In that context, when we allow prejudice and sexism to affect our judgment we essentially cripple ourselves.
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