Suzanne Snizek, Associate Professor, School of Music
Sikata Banerjee, Professor, Gender Studies
And School of Music flute students Emily Morse, Lisa Matsugu, Charlie Mason, and Rhiannon Jones

Music is widely perceived as the most abstract art form. It might be surprising to learn that, even in 2020, there are significant challenges and barriers to women who are composing music. Until very recently we accepted a patriarchal conception of art music that routinely ignored both the historical contributions by women and also the achievements and contributions of women in the contemporary classical music industry. Through performances of four solo flute works by female composers as well as a discussion with the performers and scholars, this Ideafest session will explore the reasons why female composers have been excluded, ignored or sidelined.