ABC News published an article on an initiative to correct the gender imbalance among conductors in the US. Conducting is well known to have historically excluded women, but the call for collective improvement of the imbalance is growing stronger. Dallas Opera founded the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors in order to improve the ratio. The institute offers a two-week residency, masterclasses, training in conducting, networking, career strategy, and even in social media presence. It also maintains an alumni network and counsels the fellows after their residency has ended. More importantly, the institute works as a resource for those looking to hire women conductors. While the Hart Institute had a difficult time starting up, it now receives 100 applications annually and has proven successful. In the five years since the institute was founded, there has been a rise in the percentage of women conductors at the top opera companies in the US – from 4% to 14% – and several alumni achieved leading positions.
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Exploring Gender Dynamics in the Music Industry
KIEM (Knowledge and Innovation Mapping of the Creative Industry)