Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s 2024 Women in Classical Music Symposium Moves to Virtual Platform

The sixth annual symposium begins November 3, 2024, with a concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

The remaining panels and activities will be held via Zoom Events November 4 & 5, 2024

Panels and speakers to include renowned musicians and music administrators Michelle Miller Burns, JoAnn Falletta, Kim Noltemy, Orli Shaham and more

DALLAS, TX (September 10, 2024) – The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO)’s annual Women in Classical Music Symposium, now in its sixth year, will now include two days of virtual programming via Zoom Events. The Symposium opens with a thrilling concert by the DSO on November 3, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. featuring several distinguished women in classical music. Following the concert, participants are invited to the first panel of the Symposium, a discussion on the life and influence of composer Amy Beach. All panels and activities on November 4 and 5, 2024, will be held virtually via Zoom Events.

Full registration for the Symposium is $40 per person and includes access to all panels and activities. A single-day pass will be available for $25 and includes access to all virtual programming on either Monday, November 4 or Tuesday, November 5. Tickets are available now at WomenInClassicalMusic.com.

The DSO’s Women in Classical Music Symposium is the only formal gathering to discuss issues specific to women in the field of classical music. Since its launch in 2019, the Symposium has featured panel discussions and presentations from leading women in the industry, including conductors, composers, performers, educators and administrators. These individuals have shared their experiences on a range of topics from gender bias and discrimination to the importance of representation and diversity in classical music. The Symposium has encouraged authenticity, vulnerability and sharing which is widely adopted by the speakers and attendees.

Support for the Symposium is provided by The Eugene McDermott Foundation, The Every Page Foundation, Yon Jorden, Betty Regard, Wei Ling Wang and Martha Wells.

Panels and Activities

Opening Concert: Elgar’s Enigma Variations
Sunday, November 3, 3:00 p.m.
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

Anu Tali conducts

Anne-Marie McDermott, piano

Dallas Symphony Orchestra

This concert is presented by Chanel, the Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 Women in Classical Music Concert Series.

Post-Concert Panel: “Amy Beach, A Trailblazer”
Sunday, November 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
*This panel will be held in person at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

Michelle Miller Burns, Ross Perot President & CEO, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Katie McGuinness, Wildenthal Families Chief Artistic Officer, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Anne-Marie McDermott, Pianist

Anu Tali, Conductor

Monday, November 4

Welcome Session
9:30-9:45 a.m.

Awards of Excellence and Career Advancement
9:45-10:15 a.m.

JoAnn Falletta, Music Director, Buffalo Philharmonic

Fernanda Lastra, Assistant Conductor, Buffalo Philharmonic

Panel: “Leading Ladies: Women on the Podium and Passing the Baton”
10:15-11:00 a.m.

This conversation will cover the challenges at each stage of women conductors’ careers and ways that mentor/mentee relationships can help them overcome these hurdles. We will also highlight how relationships between music directors and assistant conductors pave the way for tomorrow’s conductors.

Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director, Chicago Sinfonietta

JoAnn Falletta, Music Director Buffalo Philharmonic

Fernanda Lastra, Assistant Conductor, Buffalo Philharmonic

Shira Samuels-Shragg, Assistant Conductor, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Michelle Di Russo, Assistant Conductor, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Panel: “Women in Leadership: She-E-O’s of Today’s Leading Orchestras”
11:35 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

The female leaders of today’s leading orchestras come together to discuss their paths to orchestral leadership, common challenges and their thoughts on the state of the industry.

Kim Noltemy, President & CEO, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Jean Davidson, Executive Director, National Symphony Orchestra

Jennifer Barlament, Executive Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Katherine Carleton, Executive Director, Orchestra Canada

Michelle Miller Burns, President & CEO, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Panel: “All Access: Transforming Lives Through Inclusive Music Education”
2:30-3:45 p.m.

This panel will discuss the importance of music education at every age and how to create access for those in underserved communities. Other topics will include teaching the individual vs the group, preparing students for the next phase of education, and teaching in a way that translates lessons to other areas of their lives.

Ashley Alarcon, Young Musicians Manager of Teaching & Learning, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Ana Abrantes, Director of Education, Sphinx Organization

Chelsea Tanner, Flute Instructor, Tonebase

Camille Delaney-McNeil, Director, Youth Orchestra Los Angeles

Florencia Velasco Fortner, President & CEO, The Concilio

Panel: “Women in Marketing: Pioneering Strategies for Connecting with Diverse Audiences”
4:15-5:15 p.m.

This panel will discuss marketing tactics, goals and creative problem-solving methods for appealing to diverse audiences. The panelists will explore ways to get to know their communities, target first time ticket-buyers and how to ensure customer retention, building loyalty and culture in their markets.

Terry D. Loftis, Chief Advancement and Revenue Officer, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Kayla Hayes, Director of Digital Marketing, Colorado Symphony

Sandy Choi, Senior Marketing Manager, DC Youth Orchestra

Tori Fusinaz, Chief Marketing Officer, Jacksonville Symphony

Elisha Johnson, Associate Director of Audience Engagement, Arkansas Symphony

Tuesday, November 5

Panel: “Futuristic Programming: Nurturing Growth and Retention”
10:00-11:00 a.m.

Leading artistic directors discuss how to approach programming in a balanced way, including well-known and beloved works that retain their current audience base, while introducing new works to support up-and-coming living composers and attracting new audiences.

Katie McGuinness, Chief Artistic Officer, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Leah Rosenthal, Artistic Director, La Jolla Music Society

Elizabeth Helgeson, Director of Artistic Planning and Administration, New York Philharmonic

Jessica Mallow-Gulley, Executive Director, Kalamazoo Symphony

Sandra Doan, Artistic Director, The Cliburn

Panel: “Challenging Genre and Promoting Diversification: Empowering Women of Color in the Music Industry”
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Leaders, instrumentalists, composers and curators come together for this panel discussing how artists can champion diversity and new music and break free of genre confines. Panelists will focus on how each of these areas can support and empower women of color.

Melissa Ngan, President & CEO, American Composers Orchestra

Kiani Lilly, Arts Administration Intern, Cleveland Orchestra

Shih-Hui Chen, Composer/Professor, Rice University

Maria Rojas, Latino Alliance

Raashi Kulkarni, Composer and pianist

Panel: “Women in Management: Working Together to Foster the Next Generation of Performers”
2:30-3:45 p.m.

This panel discussion will provide a look inside the world of a variety of booking agencies and management styles, exploring how non-profits and for-profits can work together to create a smooth career path for young and upcoming solo artists and ensembles. Panelists will also discuss how strategic partnerships can create more opportunities and exposure for artists of color.

Tanya Bannister, President, Concert Artists Guild

Katie Backus, Vice President of Artist Management and Booking, Concert Artists Guild

Christina Baker, Senior Director of Artist Management, Young Concert Artists

Sarah Gordon, Vice President, Manager, Artists & Attractions, Opus 3 Artists

Achia Floyd, Director of Foundation Relations and Community, Sphinx Organization

Panel: “Harmony in Motion: Achieving Work-Life Balance”
4:15-5:00 p.m.

Top administrators and musicians gather for a discussion on achieving work-life balance throughout all stages of their personal lives/family building.

Debi Pena, Chief Administrative Officer, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Yerin Kim, Professor of Piano, Central Washington University

Sarah Ioannides, Conductor, Symphony Tacoma

Kate Breytsbraak, Manager of Artist Relations, Kansas City Symphony

Orli Shaham, Pianist

Closing Session
5:00-5:15 p.m.

Michelle Miller Burns, President & CEO, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

ABOUT THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi, presents more than 150 orchestra concerts each year at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s top-rated concert halls. As the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO is committed to inspiring the broadest possible audience with distinctive classical programs, inventive pops concerts and innovative multi-media presentations. As part of its commitment to the community, the orchestra reaches more than 243,000 adults and children annually through performances, educational programs and community outreach initiatives. The orchestra offers more than 200 chamber concerts in neighborhoods throughout Dallas each year, as well as music lessons to more than 1200 students as part of its Young Strings and Young Musicians programs. The DSO has a tradition dating back to 1900 and is a cornerstone of the unique, 118-acre Arts District in Downtown Dallas that is home to multiple performing arts venues, museums and parks – the largest district of its kind in the nation. The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Arts & Culture, City of Dallas. For more information, visit dallassymphony.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Chelsey Norris, Director of Communications | Dallas Symphony Orchestra
c.norris@dalsym.com | 214.871.4063