Celebrating women and music

This week I had the pleasure of participating in the 2012 International Women's Brass Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  It was a wonderful week of great concerts, great music and fabulous people, and a very special experience all around -  for example, I never would have expected to see someone as world renowned as Abby Conant sitting front row centre for one of my recitals! I had a great time performing in a solo and quartet setting, and participating in so many great discussions.  Two things really stuck out for me this week: there were a large number of fantastic new commissions and premieres, and all were  interesting, accessible and encouraging for the future of brass music! Also, I was excited to see that the conference was not about affirming that women can play brass instruments too, but that it was instead a celebration of great concerts and great music, and it happened to feature fantastic women onstage!  Congratulations to Deanna Swoboda and Lin Foulk for their great

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