WOMEN MUSICIANS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 7, 10 January 1938, Page 14

WOMEN MUSICIANS

WELL-KNOWN CONDUCTORS

A well-known French woman musician, Mademoiselle Nadia Boulanger, Imade history recently when she conducted a concert of the Royal Philharmonic Society in London, states an overseas: exchange. It was, the first time in the history of the society ■ that a. woman had conducted one of its concerts. . ' .-...' ■':; .-,,•.■;■' ■'..'- :.:,

Mademoiselle Boulanger is one of the leading teachers of music in Paris.

One of the most eminent* women musicians oj; the day> who is also well known as a conductor, is Dame Ethel Smyth, who celebrates her eightieth birthday this year. She has directed performances of her own compositions with, among others, the Queen's Hall Orchestra and the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra. At her seventy-fifth i birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall she conducted her suffragette song, "The March of the Women." In 1928 she conducted the Berlin Philhar-. monic Orchestra—the only woman to have done si.. ' ■•'

A famous woman conductor of choirs is Madame Clara Novello Davies, mother of Ivor Novello. She is the founder and conductor of the Royal Welsh.Ladies' Choir, which won prizes at the Chicago Exhibition of 1893, and on one occasion sang. before King George V and Queen Mary. Madame Novello Davies recently announced her intention of retiring after fifty years' work for choral art.

I In a few weeks' time there will be a newcomer to the ranks of women con? ductors, for Miss Daisy Kennedy—in private life Mrs. John Drinkwater. widow of the celebrated poet—is shortly setting out on a big adventure as leader and conductor of a male string orchestra. • , : The orchestra will consist of six men players; and will play light music, but no jazz or musical comedy. Miss Kennedy's main aim in making t^s venture is to assure the future of hey three little daughters. ■ .