In celebration of International Women’s Day (8 March), Polyarts conductor Eímear Noone and HarrisonParrott Director Lydia Connolly take part in a panel discussion ​‘Women Shaping the World: Equality and Conductors’ at Institut français discussing gender equality issues in classical music. 

Guest speakers also include conductors Alice Farnham and Claire Gibault, and the panel is moderated by Jessica Duchen. 

The discussion takes place on 7 March, 7pm at Institut français, London. 

Additionally, on 6 March Eímear Noone is the keynote speaker at the largest celebration event for International Women’s Day in Dublin. A leading videogame and film composer and conductor, performing with orchestras including Royal Philharmonic, Pittsburg Symphony and The Philadelphia, Eimear’s presentation is entitled ​‘Power, Projection and Persona’. On this theme Eímear says: 

“It is not my nature to yell or even speak loudly, but when I am conducting the orchestra, the power I have to project in order to get the required performance is the equivalent of being most surefooted, loud mouthed general. And during the performance, I have to project that power without saying a word.” 

Read Lydia Connolly’s 2018 ABO conference speech: ​‘Equality on the Podium’