The Women's Philharmonic
| Company type | Non-profit orchestra |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Performing arts |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Miriam Abrams, Elizabeth Seja Min, Nan Washburn |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Orchestral performances, music recordings |
The Women's Philharmonic (TWP) was a professional orchestra based in San Francisco, established in 1981 by Miriam Abrams, Elizabeth Seja Min, and Nan Washburn. The ensemble ceased operations in 2004.
History
Initially known as the Bay Area Women's Philharmonic, by 1998 TWP's programming was almost exclusively dedicated to compositions by more than 150 female composers. Their repertoire featured upwards of 130 world premieres and included over 40 commissioned works. A partial catalog of their performances lists 283 pieces. The orchestra's guiding principle was to "transform the standard concert repertoire by integrating works composed by women." TWP received several accolades for Adventurous Programming from organizations such as ASCAP and the American Symphony Orchestra League.
Financial support for the orchestra came from prominent institutions including the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, San Francisco Arts Commission, and the Women's Foundation of San Francisco. Ultimately, monetary challenges contributed significantly to TWP's disbandment in 2004.
In 2008, Women's Philharmonic Advocacy was created to preserve TWP’s heritage and encourage orchestras worldwide to perform works by women composers.
The legacy of the organization is also maintained through the Community Women's Orchestra, which Nan Washburn founded in 1985 as a complementary ensemble to TWP.
Music directors
- Elizabeth Seja Min (1981–1985)
- Nan Washburn (artistic director and associate conductor, 1981–1990)
- JoAnn Falletta (1986–1997)
- Apo Hsu (1997–2003)
Guest conductors
- Sebrina Alfonso
- Gisele Ben-Dor
- Sarah Caldwell
- Ann Krinitsky
- J. Karla Lemon
- Jadine Louie
- Anne Manson
- Marsha Mabrey
- Kathleen McGuire
- Frances Steiner
Recordings
- Baroquen Treasures (Newport Classic, 1990)
- The Women's Philharmonic: Mendelssohn, Schumann (1993, Koch International Classics 7169; reissued 2008)
- Uses of Music in Uttermost Parts: Music by Elinor Armer, Text by Ursula K. Le Guin (1995, Koch International Classics)
- The Music of Chen Yi (1996, New Albion Records)
- The Music of Florence Price (2001, Koch International Classics 7518; reissued 2008)
Further reading
- Christi Denton, Amy Bohorquez, and Katrina Blomdahl. (1995). The Women's Philharmonic: History, Music, and a Sociological Analysis. "The Women's Philharmonic"
- Alethea Yip. "Symphony Conductor: Taking the Baton at the Women's Philharmonic", AsianWeek, May 30 - June 4, 1997.
External links
- Official site of the American Symphony Orchestra League
- Community Women's Orchestra official website
- Women's Philharmonic Advocacy official site
- [1] Selected repertoire of The Women's Philharmonic]
- I Resound Press digital music scores