Music Meets Drama

  Dear Mr. Austin: Am leaving for New York in the morning – after a very wonderful visit.   Kindness of every sort has been showered upon me – officially and personally.   Am enclosing two notices which I’d like back – please later.   All the papers were good to me – and the consensus of opinion seems to be that I really can conduct ! (January 18, 1930 Gena Branscombe letter to her publisher, Mr. Austin, at Arthur P. Schmidt Co. in Boston- held at the Library of Congress)   On January 8, 1930 a woman conductor, Gena Branscombe, led The Women’s Symphony Orchestra of Chicago in a performance of her music, “The Dancer of Fjaard, ‘On Over the Water’ from “Pilgrims of Destiny,” and the ‘Symphonic Suite for Orchestra’ from her “Quebec Suite .”   From this concert she noted the importance of kindness, positive press coverage and the recognition that “…I really can conduct .” The Chicago women’s orchestra was found in 1925. Their mission was to premier...

It has been an honor and wonderful experience to work with the creator and producer, Matt Spangler,  of the podcast "The Ladies Speak."  This past November outside Boston we recorded the new episode about Gena Branscombe.   Miss Branscombe's passion filled life of music, women composers, American music and especially education is highlighted in this episode.  We, The Gena Branscombe Project, carry on the example she set for us.  https://www.the-ladies-speak.com/episodes #BringingBackBranscombe