“When Lexington Philharmonic general manager Sarah Thrall talks to people around town about the orchestra’s opening its 2019-20 season with a concert featuring a piece by composer Julia Perry, they invariably say, ‘Who’s that?’ ” writes Kevin Nance in Friday’s (9/20) Lexington Herald-Leader (Kentucky). “Perry (1924-1979) [was] an African-American who grew up in Lexington’s East End neighborhood…. The Philharmonic is … beginning each of this season’s concerts—including Saturday’s series opener … featuring Perry’s alternately propulsive and lyrical ‘A Short Piece for Orchestra’—with a composition by a woman.” Other concerts will feature music by Libby Larsen, Jessie Montgomery, Jennifer Higdon, Missy Mazzoli, and Loren Loiacono. “The Philharmonic’s push for greater prominence for women composers this season is part of a larger, ongoing effort by the orchestra to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in its programming, its audience and its staff and board, [Executive Director Allison] Kaiser says…. Thrall noted that several orchestras around the country … are taking the lead on the path to greater inclusion.” Says Thrall, “It’s the time to highlight underrepresented populations, including women. This year is also the centennial of passage of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It’s time.”
Posted September 25, 2019
