Women Composers's Festival: Abstract

Faculty Contact Person: Leon Couch, ProfCouch@bigfoot.com, x1071

Although women have been actively composing and performing music throughout history, traditional Western music studies rarely include their contributions. This festival from November 17^th to 19^th will engage students in the classroom, lecture hall, and concert hall.

The prominent composer Dr. Bonnie Miksch (Mercer University) will present a key-note lecture on women in computer music, open to the general public. Composition is a male-dominated field, and women active in computer music are even more rare. Furthermore, our students rarely hear computer music, and Miksch's abilities in the classroom the previous day will help them appreciate this unfamiliar medium (fitting perfectly into the sophomore theory curriculum). Miksch will also give a composition masterclass and meet student composers privately, providing an excellent role model for female students.

The most public event will be a concert in the JRH on November 18^th with students, faculty, and music department ensembles performing. This venue will not only give students valuable performance experience, but more importantly, encourage them to learn and buy music by women composers. The public will become familiar with the women composers. Dr. Miksch will perform some of her acoustic and computer music compositions with the help of student musicians.

With the current faculty and the visiting scholar, I hope to inspire both students and faculty to consider performing and teaching women's works. This festival may also cause musicians to reevaluate their beliefs and recognize forces that have and continue to affect women in the conservative field of music.