International Women’s Day 2024 — Inspiring Inclusion
8/3/2024
To celebrate International Women's Day, we asked our colleagues to share their experiences as, and with, women in the workplace
“I’ve had the very good fortune to be surrounded by strong, creative and supportive women throughout my life — at home, at school and university and throughout my long career with HarrisonParrott. I consider it a responsibility and a privilege to nurture, support and advocate for women throughout our industry — and to help drive positive change wherever inequity may still stand in their way.” — Lydia Connolly
“Without the generosity of spirit of so many women throughout my life I would not have had the life and career I have. I see it as part of the ongoing duty of all women to continue to support new generations in all possible ways to keep striving for equality of opportunity. It’s so easy when you are surrounded by so many amazing women as we are lucky to have at HarrisonParrott, to forget that despite having coming so far there is still so far to go in today’s world – and that we must continue to remember that every day.” — Lorna Aizlewood
“Throughout my career, sometimes I have been the only woman in the room. Even though this can be intimidating, it can also be empowering, as I feel privileged to have a voice in the room when many do not. I feel a big responsibility to use my voice and to show the important role that women have in creating change, sharing solutions and providing a different viewpoint. A balanced and inclusive workplace leads to broader representation and better decisions can be made.” — Fiona Livingston
“I feel happy and proud to see that we have walked a long way in terms of inclusion, diversity and equality and I am very excited to face the upcoming challenges. We need to work hard every day to create a music stage where we only see people, artists, performers and musicians. Without labels, without barriers, without restrictions.” — Federico Hernandez
“As a multi-ethnic woman, I aspire to empower women of all backgrounds to thrive in the classical music industry, envisioning a future of equal opportunity for all. Through collaboration, mentorship, and fostering diversity and equality, I believe HarrisonParrott can lead the way towards a more vibrant and inclusive classical music industry; where women of all walks of life feel supported and empowered to pursue their passions fearlessly.” - Evi Jaman
“There are a lot of limitations implied within the gender roles assigned to us that anyone, regardless of their abilities and gender, should question — if not defy. Ultimately, you are the one in control of what being a woman means to you. HarrisonParrott is giving us the opportunity to define our own narratives and explore the necessity to include women from different backgrounds in the music landscape.” — Lucie Rivet
“My career has been shaped by some utterly brilliant and inspiring women who have gone above and beyond to ensure I had the best training and support from the start. I am eternally grateful to each of them and I have made it a key goal in my career to do the same — to train, support and raise other women alongside me. There’s an incredible non-competitive and supportive energy that comes with working with women and I hope to always encourage and foster this atmosphere.” — Milly Paine
“I’m inspired every day, both professionally and personally, by the women around me who uplift, support, and empower others. It’s a privilege to be able to advocate for women in the arts, and at Birdsong I’m particularly proud to be working with many brilliant female composers, who have been under-represented historically.” — Megan O’Hanlon
