“As part of an ongoing effort to diversify its roster of composers, the Philadelphia Orchestra will collaborate with the American Composers Orchestra on a Sept. 6 reading of scores by six women composers,” writes Peter Dobrin in Thursday’s (/16) Philadelphia Inquirer. “By inviting in select decision-makers such as conductors and artistic administrators from other orchestras, the organizers aim to encourage further exposure and opportunities for these composers….. Works by Melody Eötvös, Robin Holcomb, Chen-Hui Jen, Hilary Purrington, Xi Wang, and Nina C. Young will be played and recorded, and [there will be] a round-table discussion and feedback from orchestra players.” Four of the six composers were identified through the League of American Orchestras’ Women Composers Readings and Commissions program, made possible by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. “Will this mean that one or more of the works will end up on a Philadelphia Orchestra concert? ‘They may,’ said Jeremy Rothman, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s vice president of artistic planning. However, he said: … ‘We want works to be workshopped, read and heard without that pressure.’ … The Sept. 6 readings will be conducted by Kensho Watanabe and played by the Philadelphia Orchestra,” and the composers will receive feedback from ACO Artistic Director Derek Bermel and composer Melinda Wagner.
Posted August 17, 2018
