Aspire Celebrates International Women’s Day
Everyone knows the story of Mozart: the boy genius who composed his first piece at age 5. But few people outside of the musical community know about Mozart’s sister, Nannerl, an equally talented musician. When they were children, Nannerl Mozart performed alongside her brother to sold out crowds. She was regarded as an excellent harpsichordist, often receiving top billing on concerts. And Wolfgang wasn’t the only composer in the family. Nannerl wrote music as well as performed. In his letters to her, her brother lavished praise on Nannerl’s compositions.
Until her career was abruptly cut short.
Despite her immense musical talent, Nannerl was groomed for life as a mother and wife. She was no longer allowed to perform in public when she reached a marriageable age. Unlike her famous brother, most of Nannerl’s work as a composer has been lost.
Even after her marriage, Nannerl clung to her identity as a pianist, practicing 3 hours a day even though she could no longer give concerts.
In 1918, nearly 100 years after Nannerl Mozart’s death, the first woman was accepted into a major professional orchestra. But stigma against women performers in classical music persisted for decades. Few women were members of professional orchestras until the 1970s. It wasn’t until blind auditions became the norm that the number of women in American orchestras increased dramatically.
As of 2021, women make up nearly 40% of musicians in professional orchestras in the United States. 34% of jazz productions are now led or co-led by women. And women like Taylor Swift top the list of high-earning pop stars.
Sexism and gender pay gaps still exist, and we have a long way to go before women are granted the same performance and financial opportunities as men. However, women in today’s world no longer have to hide or give up their musical ambitions like Nannerl Mozart did. Today, women no longer have to hide their talent. Women are no longer destined to only play the role of wife or mother. In today’s world, women are able to build careers around their identities. Women are able to pursue their musical passions.
And the musical world is immeasurably better off for it.
Consider the following musical geniuses:
Hilary Hahn, arguably the most talented violinist of her generation. Ella Fitzgerald, the “Queen of Jazz,” who broke racial and gender barriers. Marin Alsop, conducting virtuoso and first conductor to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. Beyonce, the undisputed queen of pop. Leotyne Price, powerhouse soprano and the first African American woman vocalist to garner international acclaim.
Imagine a world without the enormous contributions of these and the thousands of other women that have changed our musical landscape forever. That’s no world to live in.
On International Women’s Day and every other day, Aspire honors women. The women who inspire us, the women who perform alongside us, and the women who lead us.
Fighting all the barriers standing between women and the stage was never easy. But if there’s anything history has taught us, it’s that there’s nothing women can’t do.