Elisabeth Blair, a graduate student in composition at Western Michigan University, had a background in the egalitarian world of singer-songwriters before changing her focus to classical music study. There, she was confronted by a longstanding lack of recognition for women composers, past and present. She asked herself, "Where are the other composers like me?" and, "Why, in a season of concerts by top American orchestras in 2015, were only two percent of the works written by women?"
Blair contacted women composers around the world, and began interviewing them about their experiences. Then she creating a platform to share those discussions: the websiteListening To Ladies. Blair also began to arrange local performances of music by women. This Friday, the mixed chamber music group Latitude 49 will present a concert of eight works, all by women composers.
Latitude 49 performs at 8 pm in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. Tickets and more information are available at the Miller Auditorium box office website.
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