Society of Women Musicians

The Society of Women Musicians was a British group founded in 1911 for mutual cooperation between women composers and performers, in response to the limited professional opportunities for women musicians at the time. The founders included Katharine Eggar, a composer, Marion M. Scott, a musicologist, and Gertrude Eaton, a singer. 37 women came to the first meeting, including Rebecca Helferich Clarke and Liza Lehmann, who later became the group's first president. [Grove, SWM]

The group had a number of influential musicians as presidents, including Cécile Chaminade, Astra Desmond, Myra Hess, Rosa Newmarch, and Elizabeth Poston. The post of vice-president was largely honorary, and was held by woman musicians such as Nadia Boulanger, Imogen Holst, Elisabeth Lutyens, Elizabeth Maconchy, and Fanny Waterman. [Grove, SWM]

Although the group was aimed at women, men were not excluded, and were included in the membership and attended conferences. Male members included Thomas F Dunhill and Walter Willson Cobbett. [Musicweb]

Activities included collecting a library, starting a choir and orchestra which gave public and private concerts of works by members of the Society, lectures, and a composers conference. The Society was also active in advocating for professional women musicians in symphony orchestras. [Grove, SWM]

The Society disbanded in 1972, and its archives were given to the Royal College of Music. [Grove, SWM]

References

*Sophie Fuller. "Society of Women Musicians", "Grove Music Online", ed. L. Macy (accessed March 12 2007), [http://www.grovemusic.com/ grovemusic.com] (subscription access).
* [http://www.musicweb-international.com/Scott/Scott_Women.htm Musicweb international on Marion Scott and the Socitey]

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