Conscious Inclusion of Women Musicians

This paper discusses the vast divide between performance opportunities and income earned by male and female musicians. Although female singers are quite visible on the world’s stages, few female instrumentalists are employed on a regular basis and even fewer women composers have their music commissioned for programs or films funded by private and public monies. Several proficient female jazz musicians are identified, and how and why women are omitted from performance is discussed. The need for everyone-producers, promoters, funders, and bandleaders-to consciously choose to include women musicians in programming, especially where public funding is involved, is emphasized.