An article in last weekend’s Observer newspaper has reported that there appears to be great gender inequality at the BBC Proms.

Inequality

In the article by Vanessa Thorpe, research by UK Feminista, a national campaigning group on gender equality reported showing that only 1.6% of the conductors and 4.1% of the composers featured in the festival will be women.

The article also suggested that although there seems to be fairly equal representation of the sexes in many British orchestras, including growing numbers in the ‘traditional’ male domain of the brass and percussion sections, women conductors are still a rarity.

Supporting act

Kat Banyard, director of UK Feminista was reported as stating that women are still "the supporting act" in British creativity, whilst the novelist and critic Bidisha was much stronger in her views at a recent Women’s Words event, stating that, "I blame the perpetrators, male and female for the misogyny and manworshipping."

Clear cut

Historically it seems, the case is clear cut, with a detailed survey of the Proms 115 year history revealing that of the 7,168 concerts that have taken place, there have been a mere handful of female composers featured, with no mention of composers such as Clara Schumann or Fanny (Hensel) Mendelssohn.

In contrast, Wagner has been performed nearly 6,000 times and Beethoven close to 3,000.

The brass band world

So what has been the situation with female conductors and composers in the brass band world we wonder?

Conductors

The first female conductor to raise a baton at the British Open Championships was Betty Anderson in 1978, whilst Barbara Stone did the same thing at the Nationals the same year.

Lynda Nicholson emulated both in 2002 and also conducted at the National Finals and All England Masters, whilst Catherine Underwood is the only other female conductor we could find who has directed at the Royal Albert Hall.

Perhaps the closest they have come there has been as inspirations for two test pieces – Hiawatha in 1902 and Joan of Arc in 19254BR

Composers

In terms of female composers, Helen Perkin provided the set works at the British Open way back in 1957 (Carnival) and again in 1962 (Island Heritage), but there has yet to be a female composer of the Championship set work at the Royal Albert Hall.

Perhaps the closest they have come there has been as inspirations for two test pieces – Hiawatha in 1902 and Joan of Arc in 1925.

Looking up?

Things have looked up for women MDs in the lower sections with wins in recent years for bands directed by Jayne Murrill, Louise Hough, Sarah Groarke, Marie Smith and Sharon Stansfield, but there is yet to be a winning female conductor in either the First or Second Sections.

As for female composers of National test pieces in the lower section finals?

Helen Perkins in 1961 and again in 1975 seem to be the only entries we could find.

So what are the chances of say Lucy Pankhurst, Andrea Price or Emily Howard getting the nod for the British Open say in 2012?

Judges

As for the judges? Just one female member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators is listed on the ABBA website – Simone Rebello – out of 64.

The National Association of Brass Band Conductors website doesn’t show names of members, but there is no female national or regional officer according to its current site.

Cue Germaine Greer...