The Merry Month of May for Women in Music!

May 2026 has been bursting with wonderful news for women in music. 

First came the Pulitzer Prize in Music awarded to Gabriela Lena Frank for her work “Picaflor: A Future Myth,” a 10-movement symphonic work.  The composer drew on Incan mythology telling the story of a hummingbird trying to save a future world from ecological disaster.  Commissioned and premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the performance was conducted by Marin Alsop.

The work was grounded in her California experience living on a farm near Mendocino close to the devastating Camp fire of 2018. 

While receiving the news of her Pulitzer Prize award, Ms. Frank was at the Metropolitan Opera where rehearsals for her opera “El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego,” were happening prior to its opening.  The opera is based upon the relationship between Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

The Pulitzer Prize in Music was established in 1943 with the first award going to William Schuman.  Ms. Frank joins the ranks of great women composer Pulitzer winners among them are Melinda Wagner, Jennifer Higdon, Caroline Shaw, Tania Leon and more. 

Now it’s time for all of us to listen to Gabriela Lena Frank’s music and involve our hearts and souls in the depth of meaning in her compositions.  Her opera is being performed at the Metropolitan Opera and will be broadcast in movie theatres nationwide.  Buy a ticket and support this woman composer!

Congratulations, Gabriela Lena Frank.

 

The San Francisco Symphony is listed as seventh in the top ten orchestras in the United States.  And, guess what brought them to the forefront of the music world news this past week?  Well, yes, their former music director Michael Tilson Thomas had died leaving a legacy of creative music making with the orchestra. 

Other than that, the orchestra announced their newest Music Director – Elim Chan.  A WOMAN CONDUCTOR!  Ms. Chan is the third woman conductor to lead a major orchestra in the United States and it’s about time.

photo copyright - Eduardas Lee

Conducting San Francisco Symphony concerts during the 2026-2027 season, her tenure begins with the 2027-2028 season.

Ms. Chan was Principal Conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and recently appointed Artistic Partner with the Vienna Symphony. She has appeared or will soon appear with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra and many more.

As one headline stated, “The San Francisco Symphony didn’t hire a star. It made the right choice.”  At 39 Ms. Chan may not have the heftiest of resumes, recordings  and world orchestra experiences, yet, from what I have read she has deep musical insights which will expand as during her tenure with her new orchestra.  The San Francisco Symphony chose someone with promise, someone who will grow her relationship with the orchestra and community all the while expanding her own musical growth.  No big name, no star yet someone with great promise was hired.

Congratulations, Elim Chan.  I look forward to being in the audience when you bring your musical talent to the stage.

 

And, now for the third announcement for the month of May.  The Gena Branscombe Project’s 2022 Conductor Scholarship winner, Valery Saul, has been appointed Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.  Beginning the Fall 2026 and for the next three years Valery will be working with Music Director Leonard Slatkin. 

Previously Valery had been Associate Conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.  Saul is a frequent cover conductor for the Oregon Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and Charlotte Symphony.

Congratulations, Valery.  I’m sure you will love your new Nashville music home!

#BringingBackBranscombe