It has been reported that Thea Musgrave (b. 1928), whose music was featured in this concert, once responded to an interviewer’s question about being a woman composer by saying, “Yes I am a woman, and I am a composer. But rarely at the same time”.

The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s She Speaks programs, showcasing current and past women composers, bring to light underacknowledged women composers and engaging compositions. In her introductory remarks, composer Anne Cawrse noted that, over its four iterations since 2021, the She Speaks seasons have featured 77 works by 43 composers from 14 countries; 61 percent of the featured composers were still living and 23 were Australian. Four of the works on this concert program (besides her own) had not previously been performed in Australia.

Such emphasis on contemporary female composers greatly expands the nature and character of music presentation. Mounted in collaboration with Adelaide University’s Elder Conservatorium, the She Speaks concerts diverge significantly from typical orchestral programming in that they comprise shorter works, and these are often of a more personal nature, frequently offering profound insights into human society and especially the situation of women.