Classical music’s diversity problem: 92% of works are composed by men
A new report from Donne, Women in Music, entitled ” Equality & Diversity in Global Repertoire 2024″, has uncovered a disturbing lack of progress and even regression in the diversity of global orchestral programming for the 2023-24 season. Despite ongoing discussions about the importance of inclusivity in classical music, the representation of women and global majority composers has marginally declined, highlighting the urgent need for change in the industry.
The report, which analysed the repertoire of 111 orchestras across 30 countries, found that a staggering 92.5% of works were composed by men, with 89.3% of those works attributed to white men. Women composers accounted for a mere 7.5% of the programmed pieces, a slight decrease from the previous year’s 7.7%. The representation of global majority women composers also dropped from 2.1% to 1.6%, with Black women composers declining from 1.02% to 0.59%, Asian women composers at 0.50%, mixed heritage women at 0.40%, Indigenous women at 0.07%, and Middle Eastern women at a mere 0.02%.
Living composers remain underrepresented, with just 11.5% of works written by living composers and only 1.4% by living global majority women, while non-binary composers have a negligible representation of less than 0.1%. The dominance of white male composers persists, with works by deceased white men constituting an overwhelming 78.4%, up from 76.4% in the previous year. This increase indicates a concerning regression in diversity and a growing trend towards the consolidation of a classical “canon” at the expense of broader representation.
On a more positive note, the report also highlights the orchestras with the most gender-diverse programming, with the BBC Concert Orchestra, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Chicago Sinfonietta, National Philharmonic, Aurora Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra leading the way. However, 13 orchestras programmed only music by men, and 11 orchestras exclusively featured works by white men, underscoring the pervasive lack of diversity in the industry.
Gabriella Di Laccio, soprano and founder of Donne, Women in Music, emphasises the importance of enriching the repertoire to attract new audiences and ensure the relevance of orchestral music in contemporary society. “Hesitation or inaction maintains a status quo that is exclusive and discriminatory,” she states.
The Donne Foundation offers a global network of specialists to assist orchestras in creating more diverse and inclusive programmes. Di Laccio stresses that the future of classical music should resonate with the diverse voices of today, rather than being confined to the echoes of the past. “We are at a critical juncture where inaction equates to complicity,” she adds.
The report serves as a wake-up call for the classical music industry to take decisive action towards fostering a more inclusive and representative repertoire that reflects the diversity of our world. By embracing a wider range of voices and experiences, orchestras can not only enrich their artistic offerings but also attract new audiences and ensure the continued relevance and vibrancy of classical music in the 21st century.
To read the full report, visit donne-uk.org/research/