"La Maestra", a competition for conductors at the Philharmonie de Paris
Aerial view of the Philharmonie de Paris where the “La Maestra” competition is held until September 18, 2020. AFP / Jean-Sébastien Evrard
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2 min
This is a world first: an international competition open only to female conductors.
Endowed with several thousand euros and a training academy, "La Maestra" aims to be both a highlight and a springboard in a musical landscape where only 6.2% of women are at the head of permanent symphonic orchestras. .
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It is with strength, elegance and precision that the young Italian Sara Caneva, 29, conducts the Paris Mozart Orchestra, a formation founded by another conductor Claire Gibault, instigator of the “La Maestra” competition.
“
I was a member of the jury for an international orchestral conducting competition in Mexico City, the only woman.
And one of the members of the jury told me that biologically, women could not be conductors,
”says Claire Gibault, explaining how the idea of this competition ended.
The numbers speak for themselves.
Of the nearly 800 phalanges in the world, 48 are headed by women.
In France, they are only 4% to be programmed.
“
We continue to find it exceptional that a woman conducts a large orchestra.
As long as public opinion does not find it completely normal like having a female soloist pianist, operations like ours, then after the creation of an academy "La Maestra" to accompany these young women for two years and put them up and running by having them invited by orchestras, that will be essential,
”explains Laurent Bayle, director of the Philharmonie de Paris and co-organizer of the event.
No less than 220 candidates of fifty nationalities answered the call.
Twelve were selected, including a 25-year-old black chef from Venezuela on a humanitarian flight.
“La Maestra”, the first international competition for female conductors will be held until September 18 at the Philharmonie de Paris.
The semi-finals take place this Thursday, September 17.
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