Arabic version: مهرجان يحتفل بارتفاع عدد الملحنات في الموسيقى الكلاسيكية
The Festival of Female Composers is gaining traction in Australia, highlighting the increasing prominence of women and gender diverse composers in the classical music scene. This initiative, which has become a cornerstone of ABC Classic’s celebration of International Women’s Day each March, evolved from a project initiated in 2016 aimed at boosting the representation of female composers.
According to ABC News, data shows that the share of music composed by women has significantly increased over the years. In the 2024-25 financial year, music by female composers accounted for 15.7% of airtime on ABC Classic, a substantial rise from just 2.2% in 2015. Audience familiarity with female composers is also growing, with ABC Classic presenter Vanessa Hughes noting an influx of listener requests for music by women during festival broadcasts.
The Australian classical music landscape is witnessing positive changes, with a reported 30% increase in the hire of parts for female-identifying composers over the past five years. Additionally, the Australian Music Centre has seen a steady growth of women and gender diverse music creators joining its ranks, indicating a shift toward greater gender equity in the industry.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain for female composers. Virginia Read, a veteran sound engineer, highlighted the historical bias against works by female composers, which often went underappreciated or poorly performed. Initiatives like the Tenth Muse Initiative are working to address these disparities by tracking the diversity of music programmed by orchestras across Australia.
While some orchestras are making strides, such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s 50 Fanfares project, others still lag in programming music by women. The push for greater representation continues, with many artists and organizations committed to championing diverse voices in classical music.
