Community Women's Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Community Women's Orchestra (CWO), based in Oakland, California, was founded by conductor Nan Washburn in 1985 as a community adjunct to The Women's Philharmonic
(TWP), a now-defunct, professional orchestra.
Part of CWO's original purpose was to explore orchestral music by women composers for TWP. Today, CWO is an independent and growing entity. It continues to focus on encouraging women in music, and includes at least one work by a woman composer on each of its programs. An assistant conductor is appointed annually in an effort to create more opportunities for women conductors, and Strings Attached - an entry-level ensemble - encourages the participation of women instrumentalists of varying abilities.
In addition to its own concert season of three full concerts and a chamber music event, CWO appeared at four concerts at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
as guests of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
(SFGMC), 2005-2008. Also in 2008, the CWO toured to Miami, Florida, to perform at the quadrennial GALA Choruses
Festival.
. In its 25th season (2009–2010), the CWO commissioned and premiered three new works by composers Martha Stoddard, Hilary Tann
, and Mary Watkins, and premiered a newly orchestrated work by June Bonacich. CWO was the first orchestra to play Fanny Mendelssohn
's Overture In C, when conductor JoAnn Falletta
was in the process of reconstructing the work.
The Women's Philharmonic
The Women's Philharmonic was a San Francisco-based, professional orchestra founded by Miriam Abrams, Elizabeth Seja Min and Nan Washburn in 1981 and disbanded in 2004.-History:...
(TWP), a now-defunct, professional orchestra.
Part of CWO's original purpose was to explore orchestral music by women composers for TWP. Today, CWO is an independent and growing entity. It continues to focus on encouraging women in music, and includes at least one work by a woman composer on each of its programs. An assistant conductor is appointed annually in an effort to create more opportunities for women conductors, and Strings Attached - an entry-level ensemble - encourages the participation of women instrumentalists of varying abilities.
In addition to its own concert season of three full concerts and a chamber music event, CWO appeared at four concerts at Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, the concert hall component of the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, was built in 1980 at a cost of US$28 million to give the San Francisco Symphony a permanent home. The hall has a seating capacity of 2743 persons...
as guests of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is the world's first openly gay chorus, one of its largest and the group most often credited with creating the LGBT choral movement....
(SFGMC), 2005-2008. Also in 2008, the CWO toured to Miami, Florida, to perform at the quadrennial GALA Choruses
GALA Choruses
The Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses is an international association of LGBT choruses founded in 1982. Its goal is to foster artistic and organizational development within its member choruses. The association includes almost 10,000 vocalists in over 100 associated choruses singing as...
Festival.
Mission
CWO provides an ensemble in which women musicians may participate in a supportive, non-competitive environment, promoting the awareness, recognition, knowledge and performance of music by women composers.Women's music
The CWO has been responsible for numerous regional, national, and world premieres of works by women's composers, including Juliette Folville and Dame Ethel SmythEthel Smyth
Dame Ethel Mary Smyth, DBE was an English composer and a leader of the women's suffrage movement.- Early career :...
. In its 25th season (2009–2010), the CWO commissioned and premiered three new works by composers Martha Stoddard, Hilary Tann
Hilary Tann
Hilary Tann is a Welsh composer now based in the United States.Tann holds a degree in music composition from the University of Wales, Cardiff. Her overture, With the Heather and Small Birds, commissioned by the 1994 Cardiff Festival, is her tribute to the land of her birth...
, and Mary Watkins, and premiered a newly orchestrated work by June Bonacich. CWO was the first orchestra to play Fanny Mendelssohn
Fanny Mendelssohn
Fanny Cäcilie Mendelssohn , later Fanny Hensel, was a German pianist and composer, the sister of the composer Felix Mendelssohn and granddaughter of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn...
's Overture In C, when conductor JoAnn Falletta
JoAnn Falletta
JoAnn Falletta is an American classical musician and orchestral conductor.Falletta was educated at the Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School in New York City...
was in the process of reconstructing the work.
Recordings
The CWO appears on several recordings with the SFGMC, and in 2010 released its first self-produced CD, featuring commissioned works in honor of the orchestra's 25th anniversary.Discography
- Divas' Revenge: Opera & Broadway Our Way (SFGMC, November 2005)
- USS Metaphor (SFGMC DVD, May 2008)
- Creating Harmony: 30th Season Highlights and New World Waking (SFGMC double CD, Dec. 2008)
- Women's Work and Play - 25th anniversary CD (August, 2010)
Conductors
- Nan Washburn, founder and conductor laureate, 1985–1990
- Ann Krinitsky, conductor laureate, 1990–2001
- Sara Jobin, guest conductor, 1998
- Martha Stoddard, interim conductor, 2004–2005
- Dr. Kathleen McGuire, 2005–present
Assistant conductors
- Dana Sadava, 2007–2008
- Jessica Bejarano, 2009
- Yuchi Chou, 2008–2010
- Sandra I. Noriega, 2010–present
External links
- Community Women's Orchestra official website