International Women's Day 2019 at the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ
Tuesday 19 February 2019
The ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ (ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ) is delighted to present an inspiring programme of events to mark International Women’s Day 2019, including a major celebration of contemporary female composers who are graduates of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ and a Keyboard Festival honouring Clara Schumann.
Remarkable female composers and musicians such as Imogen Holst, Ruth Gipps and Dame Joan Sutherland have played an integral part in the College’s rich history, and one of the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s wonderful performance spaces is named after cellist Amaryllis Fleming.
For this year’s International Women’s Day, ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ honours contemporary composition from notable alumnae at the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ New Perspectives concert on Friday 8 March. Helen Grime’s A Cold Spring and Charlotte Bray’s Reflections In Time, both large-scale orchestral works, are performed alongside a world premiere from current ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ composer Zoë Darbyshire. The concert will also feature Anna Meredith’s genre-defying ensemble work Flak.
The ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ celebration of female composers and musicians culminates with Clara’s Circle on Sunday March 10. This year’s Keyboard Festival celebrates the bicentenary of Clara Schumann through performances of her solo piano music and songs, with notable works from her repertoire as a concert pianist too. ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ pianists, organists, harpsichordists and collaborative pianists and their partners will come together to explore Clara’s rich, brilliant and virtuosic music, as well as that of her Romantic contemporaries.
Born 200 years ago, Clara was a distinguished performer and composer whose career spanned over 60 years at a time where such a role in society was rare for a woman. Known as Europe's 'queen of the piano' she was an important figure among the concert pianists of her time. The festival will also tell the stories of her friendships with Chopin, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Liszt, and her relationship with Robert Schumann.
ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Sparks’ inspiring outreach programme for families, schools and young people, is part of the Keyboard Festival for the first time. Visitors can test their skills on the oversized floor piano and take part in various craft activities and family-friendly workshops throughout the day.
A Song Plus concert honouring the likes of Cécile Chaminade, Amy Beach and Clara Schumann will also take place on Friday 8 March and students from ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ’s master’s course Women In Music will perform at the Royal Academy of Arts event, , on Saturday 9 March.
For more information and to buy tickets, call the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ Box Office on 020 7591 4314, visit the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ in person on Prince Consort Road SW7 or visit the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ website at and
Keyboard Festival: Clara’s Circle will be streamed live at