Music and Gender

"This is a man's world", well sort of.  Attending a historically women's college can make it easy to forget the unequal gender ratio that often occurs in higher education and in the workforce. For example, out of the 22 music education students here at Converse (both undergraduate and graduate) there are only three that are male. (Shout out to La' Pat, Santino and Ethan) In contrast, however, 71% of band directors nationally are men. 

https://www.zippia.com/band-director-jobs/demographics

Since I've started playing the French Horn 10 years ago, I've had seven Band Directors. Only two of them were female, and only one of them was the primary director. Even in the honor band clinics I've had the opportunity to participate in, a majority of the clinicians I've played under were male. Education isn't typically associated as a "Male dominated field" but Music Education specifically absolutely is. I wouldn't necessarily declare this an issue that demands everyone's attention, but it is certainly something worth acknowledging. 

Representation is important across the board. Watching women take on leadership positions of this nature is beneficial to all students, not just young women. One great example of a strong, female conductor is Maron Alsop, the first woman in the United States to lead a major orchestra. I had the opportunity to learn about Maron Alsop and her life experiences in a class I took with Dr. Vaneman. In her interviews, Maron Alsop comes across as authentic, honest, humorous and confident. I believe her conducting reflects this. 

Another wonderful example is our very own Dr. Lalama. Not only is she a wonderful leader and role model in her positions as the Director of the Petrie School of Music and Associate Professor of Music Education, she is also the conductor of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She was the conductor of the Converse Wind ensemble for some time, but passed the baton (haha) to Dr. Haecker to continue being awesome. 

https://www.converse.edu/directory/susana-lalama/

 I'm very thankful that I attend an institution the values women in leadership. I feel I learn a lot inside their classrooms but maybe even more outside of them so through their actions. In short, the female music faculty here are awesome, professors, musicians and role models and I hope to be like them one day. If you haven't taken a few minutes to read some of their Faculty Pages or in some cases websites, I highly recommend it!

Here's a few to get you started :)

https://www.converse.edu/directory/kelly-mcelrath-vaneman/

https://www.converse.edu/directory/susana-lalama/

https://www.converse.edu/directory/ericka-grodrian/