Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SPRING 2018 • PAN PIPES 17 WOMEN COMPOSERS E ntering its second year, the International Music by Women Festival was held March 1-3, 2018 in Poindexter Hall at the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS. Founder and Artistic Director Julia Mortyakova stated in her welcome to the festival that she believes "we all dream of a future when works by women are part of the classical music performance canon. Until that dream becomes a reality, it is important to highlight this music…." Dr. Mortyakova was initiated into SAI while an undergraduate at Vanderbilt University in the Blair School of Music. In 2012, she was awarded an SAI Career Performance Grant for her work on Cécile Chaminade, and she performed at the 2012 convention in Atlanta. e idea for this festival was a dream of hers since her interview at the university, because it was the first public institution of higher education for women in the country. While studying Chaminade, Dr. Mortyakova became aware that women composers were oen ignored within the standard classical music performance repertoire. Another source of inspiration was her mother, Olga Harris, who is a composer and was the last student of Aram Khachaturian. As a professor, Mortyakova quickly realized that she needed to introduce her female composition students to the women composers who came before them. Although her performance activities included works by women and she was already teaching their works, she wanted to do more. is festival is a result of that desire. Says Mortyakova, "I felt that by creating the space for other people to share their knowledge and passion for this music, the Music by Women Festival, I could serve the field of music and have a much greater and far reaching effect than as a single individual." is year's program had a focus on diversity and inclusion. Performers, composers, and presenters hailed from around the world, including the United States, Russia, Malaysia, Hungary, Taiwan, Romania, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Iran, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, and Italy. In addition to music from Eastern and Western Europe, performances and lecture recitals covered music of Asia, North and South America, film music, jazz, blues, and digital arts. e research presented during the lecture recitals and papers addressed issues of gender and gender identity, cultural background, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and ability/ disability. Because there was no distinction between student and professional categories, students were afforded the same opportunities to present performances and lectures as other presenters. ere is no fee to submit a proposal and the registration fee is $50, affording the chance to attend to many without a university or institutional affiliation. is year's festival had 225 participants, up from 150 in the inaugural year. The Second Annual International Music by Women Festival International Music by Women Festival Founder and Artistic Director Julia Mortyakova.

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