BY ZOE DOUGLAS-KINGHORN, LEAD WRITER
Gender equality. What does it look like in the orchestra? Blind auditions and gender-neutral concert blacks may bring balance into classical music, but orchestral leadership still tends to fall (quite literally) into in the hands of men on the podium.
This year, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has chosen to push for change, and inspire and engage more diverse musical leaders. Under the direction of acclaimed conductor Elena Schwarz, seven emerging artists will undertake an experience like no other: a program to nurture the development of female conductors.
The TSO’s new Louise Crossley Conducting Workshop is funded through the bequest of Dr Louise Crossley. An eminent Tasmanian scientist, environmentalist, and politician, Crossley was a big fan of the TSO and proud of women forging careers in the orchestra. But to her legacy, she hoped one day orchestras across the world would have as many women at the helm as men.
In this series, we meet some of these future leaders.
Introducing Laura Barton
Laura Barton is a conductor and violinist from New Zealand. She studies at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne, where she recently performed in the Australian World Orchestra and Royal Melbourne Philharmonic. Her Masters of Music Research combines her dual love of violin and conducting.
Why do you conduct?
I’ve played the violin since I was three years old, so the correlation between moving my hands and creating music is ingrained in my bones. As a conductor, you don’t just play one instrument – you get to play them all! You wave your arms and music comes out, and that’s such an intoxicating concept to me; and then, in addition to that, the whole range of sounds and timbres and emotions that you can achieve instantly.
How important is it to ensure women conductors are supported in musical leadership?
Conducting is one of the last areas of music to fully embrace women. I don’t think that the goal should be 50:50 men to women, but rather to eliminate prejudice and make for a fair selection procedure to find the best person for the job. It is important to support women in musical leadership roles to reach an equal footing.
What’s your dream piece to conduct and why?
I would absolutely love to conduct a really massive work with a huge orchestra, like Mahler’s first symphony or Strauss’ Alpine symphony. The sheer scale of it, and the sound that you can produce as a conductor, just by waving a hand – I can’t even imagine it. Incredible.
Elena will direct the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s new Louise Crossley Conducting Workshop in Hobart on 12 August, 2018.
Stay tuned to read more interviews with the talented new conductors taking part!
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Image supplied: credit Pia Johnson.
