Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra
| Company type | Symphony orchestra |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1940 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Founder | Ethel Stark, Madge Bowen |
| Defunct | 1965 |
| Fate | Dissolved due to increased acceptance of women in mainstream orchestras and blind auditions |
| Headquarters | Montreal , Canada |
Area served | Canada |
Key people | Ethel Stark (conductor), Mildred Goodman (concertmaster 1940–1961) |
| Products | Orchestral concerts and performances |
Number of employees | Approximately 75 musicians initially (1940) |
The Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra (MWSO) (French: Symphonie féminine de Montréal), founded in 1940 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and active until 1965, holds the distinction of being Canada's inaugural all-women's symphony orchestra. This ensemble was created by conductor Ethel Stark alongside Madge Bowen.
Operating out of Plateau Hall, the orchestra initially comprised roughly 75 musicians, both professional and amateur. At first, the group welcomed any amateur capable of playing an instrument, but from 1947 onward, it transitioned to exclusively professional members. As an ensemble entirely managed and staffed by women, the MWSO confronted existing gender stereotypes within classical music and significantly contributed to the advancement of women's roles in Canadian society.
History
The inaugural rehearsal for the MWSO was held at Ethel Stark’s residence, with their first public performance occurring on July 29, 1940, in Mount Royal Park. During the 1941-42 season, the orchestra gave four concerts and continued to present about ten performances annually until its dissolution in the mid-1960s. A particularly notable moment in its history was the invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City on October 22, 1947.
While the orchestra’s repertoire mainly featured European classical compositions, it also emphasized contemporary works. In 1954, a smaller ensemble affiliated with the MWSO, known as The Ethel Stark Sinfonietta, introduced Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 to Canadian audiences for the first time.
Violinist Mildred Goodman held the position of concertmaster from 1940 through 1961.
The orchestra ceased operations in 1965, largely due to increased acceptance of women in mainstream professional orchestras and the implementation of blind auditions. These developments broadened opportunities for female musicians but diminished the necessity for a dedicated all-female orchestra.
Achievements
The Montréal Women's Symphony Orchestra is recognized for several pioneering accomplishments:
- Being Canada's first symphony orchestra composed exclusively of women
- Serving as the platform for the first professional Black female orchestral musician from Canada to perform at Carnegie Hall
- Becoming the first Canadian symphony orchestra to appear at Carnegie Hall
References
- Kaptainis, Arthur. "Pioneer likes a challenge." The Gazette, Montreal, 20 April 2010.
- Kraglund, John. Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada: Canadian Women in the World of Music. Ottawa: Public Archives, ca. 1968.
- Noriega, Maria L. "The Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra and the Emergence of Women as Orchestral Musicians in Canada, 1940-1965." M.Thesis, University of Calgary, 2010.
- Zadrozny, Ilse. "Stark led our first female orchestra." The Gazette, Montreal, 4 November 1995, C7.