December 18, 1996
Professor Werner Resel
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Bosendorferstrasse 12
A-1010 Vienna
AUSTRIA
Dear Professor Resel:
On behalf of the International Alliance for Women in Music, I urge you to rescind your policy of excluding women as members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The IAWM is a coalition of 800 professional musicians, including composers, conductors, performers, musicologists, educators, and librarians in 31 countries. We believe that excluding candidates based on factors other than musical ability is outrageous.
Discrimination based on gender, race, religion, ethnic background or other non-musical factors is an affront to the artistic standards of all musicians. In this age when outstanding women musicians graduate every year from conservatories and universities throughout the world, the musical standards of any orchestra will inevitably be weakened if women are categorically excluded from membership.
Our members request that you immediately begin accepting audition applications from all qualified musicians. We recommend that 1) the name, photograph and other identifying information be removed before processing the application; 2) when necessary, candidates should be selected for live auditions based on their taped performance of identical audition material; and 3) preliminary live auditions be performed behind a screen. These procedures, widely accepted in world-class orchestras, ensure that candidates are evaluated and advanced solely on the merits of their performance.
The International Alliance for Women in Music believes that the general public deserves to know that the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra continues to restrict its membership to male musicians. We are committed to publicizing this information during your March 1997 performances in the United States and will continue until your discriminatory policy no longer exists and you accept recommendations for an equitable selection procedure.
Sincerely,
Deon Nielsen Price, Doctor of Musical Arts
President, International Alliance for Women in Music
December 18, 1996
[address of Austrian officials inserted]
Dear xx,
On behalf of the International Alliance for Women in Music, I request that you join us in urging the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to rescind its policy of excluding women as members. Our organization is a coalition of 800 professional musicians, including composers, conductors, performers, musicologists, educators, and librarians in 31 countries. We believe that excluding candidates based on factors other than musical ability is outrageous.
Discrimination based on gender, race, religion, ethnic background or other non-musical factors is an affront to the artistic standards of all musicians. In this age when outstanding women musicians graduate every year from conservatories and universities throughout the world, the musical standards of any orchestra will inevitably be weakened if women are categorically excluded from membership.
Our members have requested that the VPO immediately begin accepting audition applications from all qualified musicians. We recommend that 1) the name, photograph and other identifying information be removed before processing the application; 2) when necessary, candidates should be selected for live auditions based on their taped performance of identical audition material; and 3) preliminary live auditions be performed behind a screen. These procedures, widely accepted in world-class orchestras, ensure that candidates are evaluated and advanced solely on the merits of their performance.
The International Alliance for Women in Music believes that the general public deserves to know that the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra continues to restrict its membership to male musicians. We are committed to publicizing this information during their March 1997 performances in the United States and will continue until the VPO's discriminatory policy no longer exists and they accept recommendations for an equitable selection procedure.
Sincerely,
Deon Nielsen Price, Doctor of Musical Arts
President, International Alliance for Women in Music
December 18, 1996
[media address inserted]
Dear xx,
Are you aware that membership in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is still restricted to male musicians?
On behalf of the International Alliance for Women in Music, I request that you join us in urging the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to rescind its policy of excluding women as members. Our organization is a coalition of 800 professional musicians, including composers, conductors, performers, musicologists, educators, and librarians in 31 countries. We believe that excluding candidates based on factors other than musical ability is outrageous.
With outstanding women musicians graduating every year from conservatories and universities throughout the world, how can any orchestra maintain high artistic standards while excluding all women, regardless of their ability? It is our belief that such open contempt for women's rights and talent prevents the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra from being accepted as a true ambassador of Austrian culture.
The orchestra will be performing in the United States March 4 & 5, 1997 in Costa Mesa, CA and March 7, 8, & 9, 1997 in New York, NY. We urge you to join us in an international effort to convince the orchestra to update its hiring practices. Please contact Professor Werner Resel, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Boesendorferstrasse 12, A-1010 Vienna AUSTRIA , TEL 43 1 505 65 25, FAX 43 1 505 9220.
The International Alliance for Women in Music believes that the media, concert presenters, and the general public all deserve to know that the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra restricts its membership to male musicians. We are committed to publicizing this information internationally until this discriminatory policy no longer exists. Attached please find 1) an information sheet regarding the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and 2) a reprint of "Art is Just an Excuse," an article by William Osborne about gender bias in international orchestras.
Additional material regarding the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra's discriminatory policy is available on the IAWM web site or from IAWM Board Member Monique Buzzarte.
Sincerely yours,
Deon Nielsen Price, Doctor of Musical Arts
President, International Alliance for Women in Music
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Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO) Fact Sheet
provided by the International Alliance for Women in Music
Information Regarding the Hiring Policy of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra defends its discriminatory employment practices by defining itself as a "private club" exempt from equal opportunity laws prohibiting discrimination against women.
However, 95% of the members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are also members of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, since only members of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra are permitted to audition for positions with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Despite the fact that the Vienna State Opera is a state organization, totally funded and directly operated by the Austrian government, the Vienna State Opera Orchestra has just two women members, both harpists. As a result, the pool of applicants for positions within the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra remains exclusively male.
As the parent organization, the Vienna State Opera provides the overwhelming number of services for the orchestra musicians with 300 opera performances a year. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra plays just 85 concerts a year, plus their residency at the Salzburg Festival. Since the performances of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra would not be possible without the indirect subsidy and support of the Vienna State Opera, the symbiotic relationship between the two ensembles calls into question whether or not the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra can legitimately be considered a "private club."
Sources: Letter from Wolfgang Schuster, Director of the Press Department, Vienna Philharmonic dated April 19, 1996 to Dr. Laura Jeanice Brooks and 29 other signatories. Letter from Wolfgang Schuster, Director of the Press Department, Vienna Philharmonic dated November 11, 1994 to Brenda Parkerson. Letter from Simone Klement, Press Officer, Vienna Philharmonic dated October 12, 1994 to Frau Bodau.
Additional material is available on the IAWM web site or from IAWM board member Monique Buzzarte.
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A reprint of William Osborne's article "Art is Just an Excuse" from the October, 1996 IAWM Journal, was also included in this packet.