Women in Musical Leadership

Redefining Leadership in Classical Music

A three-year conducting program designed to nurture the next generation of women and non-binary conductors.

Women in Musical Leadership is a three-year program designed to collectively develop the next generation of female and non-binary conductors and music directors in Canada.

Pacific Opera Victoria is a lead partner in this program led by Tapestry Opera with lead orchestral partner Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The program addresses a historic gender inequity on the podium by providing female and non-binary conductors active mentorship with leading conductors in the field, deep and varied experience with professional companies, and a robust artistic network.

Women in Musical Leadership provides conductors the opportunity to assist, observe, conduct, and build experience within a range of organizations in symphonic, chamber, operatic, and contemporary repertoire – giving conductors the professional experience and training that will enable them to take the podium anywhere in the world.

Apply for Women in Musical Leadership

Applications for the 2022-2025 Cohort are closed.

Year 3 Conductors

Year 2 Conductors

Year 1 Conductors

Why Women in Musical Leadership Exists: Disrupting the Status Quo

Less than 1% of music director positions in orchestras are occupied by Canadian women.

Conductors and music directors occupy a rarefied position in the classical music world. These individuals provide musical leadership within an organization, oversee its artistic vision, act as an ambassador within the community, and help to create the musical culture of a place. There is power and artistic prestige associated with these roles, and for this reason, it’s relevant to note that currently Canadian female conductors occupy less than 1% of music director positions in major Canadian orchestras.

Only 14.8% of titled music director positions in Canadian orchestras are women.
Only 15% of titled music director positions in Canadian opera companies are women.

In Canadian orchestras with budgets above 1 million dollars, there are currently 61 titled positions for conductors and music directors. Of those 61, only 9 of them are occupied by female conductors (14.8%). Of those 9, only 4 of them are Canadian (0.07%). In the opera sector, within the 7 professional opera companies in Canada which have titled music director and conductor roles ✢, only 2 out of 13 positions are occupied by women (15%).

The Women in Musical Leadership program creates opportunities and enriches the talent pool through a unique infrastructure that provides conductors the necessary time, connections, support, and experience they need to establish themselves fully in the profession.