Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Smooth Classics at Seven with Zeb Soanes 7pm - 10pm

    Smooth Classics at Seven with Zeb Soanes

    Now Playing

    Symphony No.38 in D major (2) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Download 'Symphony No.38 in D major (2)' on iTunes

    Symphony No.38 in D major (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Learning
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • More Classic FM

    13 graphs that show the alarming gender inequality in US orchestras today

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Is there equality in US orchestras in 2014? Composer and blogger Suby Raman has been looking into the gender make-up of America’s top 20 orchestras. In this series of infographics he explores proportions of male and female musicians in each section and the gender split in leadership positions. Have a look at his findings: they are eye-opening

    1. A graph depicting the gender split in US orchestras

      1. Taking a closer look

      On average, American orchestras are made up of 63% men, 37% women. Only one of the orchestras Raman analysed had more female than male musicians – St Louis Symphony. Here's a closer look at the gender split in orchestras A-L.

    2. A graph depicting the gender split in US orchestras

      2. And the rest…

      Raman looked at the gender split in America’s top 20 orchestras, taking in 1,833 musicians. Here's the data from orchestras beginning with M onwards.

    3. A graph depicting the gender split in strings

      3. String sections

      In the string sections, things start to look a little different. Women dominate in violin sections, where 59% are female, and almost half of viola players are women. By contrast, women dominate in harp sections, where they make up 95% of the musicians.

    4. A graph depicting the gender split in woodwind

      4. Woodwind sections

      In woodwind sections, there are more female than male flautists, but men dominate on all other instruments.

    5. A graph depicting the gender split in brass sections

      5. Brass sections

      Brass sections are almost exclusively male – 97% of trumpet players are male, for example. Horn players are more split, though – almost a third of musicians are female.

    6. A graph depicting the gender split in percussion and keyboard sections

      6. Percussion and keyboard sections

      In the keyboard (which could include piano, harpsichord, pianoforte or celeste for example) section, the split is exactly 50/50. Unlike the percussion section…

    7. A graph depicting the gender split of concertmasters

      7. Taking the lead

      This is where things become more interesting. Raman looks at the leaders of each section. As Raman says in his blog “Spoiler alert: there’s a pattern.” This graph shows the gender balance of the concertmaster role (sometimes called leader) compared with the gender balance of the violin section overall.

    8. A graph depicting the gender split in string sections and string leaders

      8. Follow the leader

      Raman then goes on to analyse the leader/section split of each string section. In each case (apart from harpists), there are more male than female leaders. This is especially striking for violinists, where the sections are otherwise made up of more women than men.

    9. A graph depicting the gender split in American woodwind sections and woodwind leader roles

      9. Woodwind section – leaders

      The pattern for violinists is repeated in flute sections: women dominate on the flute generally, but 57% of leaders of this section are men. Across the woodwind sections, men are more likely to be in the role of leader than women.

    10. A graph depicting the gender split in American brass sections and leaders

      10. Brass section – leaders

      Men dominate not just in the brass sections but also in the brass leader roles.

    11. A graph depicting the gender split in percussion and keyboard sections and leaders

      11. Percussion and keyboard – leaders

      The gender split of percussion and keyboard leaders tend to reflect the gender split of their sections.

    12. A graph depicting the gender split in American conductors

      12. On the podium

      Raman then looked in more detail at each section of the orchestra, starting with the conductor. It will probably come as no surprise to anyone that this role is dominated by men. Marin Alsop is the only woman to hold the post of music director at one of these orchestras, and men still dominate overall, in such roles as guest conductor, principal conductor.

    13. A graph depicting the gender of composers whose op

      13. And while we're on the subject

      The problem isn't restricted to orchestral musicians. Have a look at this graph: it charts the percentage of operas composed by men and the percentage composed by women that have been performed at the Metropolitan Opera. Yep. That's a big fat 0% next to 'female composers'.

    Facebook share Twitter share

    Discover music

    See more Discover music

    What classical music is in Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’?

    What classical music is in Spielberg’s ‘The Fabelmans’, and does Michelle Williams really play the piano?

    2 hours ago

    Williams

    Best piano works

    The 16 best pieces EVER written for piano

    8 hours ago

    15 most famous opera songs and arias

    15 most famous opera songs and arias

    8 hours ago

    A smaller, but still immense, 5,000 strong choir in Japan sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’

    Listen to this 10,000-strong Japanese megachoir sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’

    1 day ago

    Beethoven

    The traditional ‘piping in of the haggis’

    The haggis gets its own entrance music on Burns Night – here’s what it sounds like

    2 days ago

    9-year-old violinist Sora Lavorgna plays Richter's 'Summer 1' in finals of 'Prodiges'

    9-year-old violin prodigy plays Max Richter’s thrilling take on Vivaldi ‘Summer’ in talent show finale

    2 days ago

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Women composers gallery

    21 of the greatest women composers in classical music

    Best pianists of all time

    The 25 best pianists of all time

    Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

    Classic FM Live Playlists

    See more Classic FM Live Playlists

    Classic FM Hall of Fame

    Classic FM Pet Classics

    Classic FM at the Movies

    Classic FM Relax

    Classic FM Revision

    Classic FM Christmas

    Browse by

    See more Browse by

    Periods & genres

    Occasions

    Moods

    Instruments

    Latest on Classic FM

    Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as Joseph Boulogne in 'Chevalier' (2023)

    ‘Chevalier’ film: plot, release date, cast and all details about the Joseph Boulogne biopic

    Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2022

    Classic FM Live 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall: get your tickets to enjoy opera’s greatest hits!

    Events

    Martha Argerich Performs With The Youth Orchestra de Bahia in 2018

    Pianist Martha Argerich cancels performances due to heart-related health condition

    Martha Argerich

    John Williams makes history as oldest person to be nominated for an Academy Award

    John Williams makes history as oldest person to be nominated for an Academy Award

    Steven Spielberg confirms plans to make a documentary on film composer John Williams.

    Steven Spielberg confirms a documentary on film music legend John Williams is coming

    Cellist HAUSER plays ‘Phantom of the Opera’ on Lloyd Webber musical’s 35th anniversary

    Cellist HAUSER plays ‘Phantom of the Opera’ on Lloyd Webber musical’s 35th anniversary

    Lloyd Webber

    Xiaole the piano playing robot

    Watch the piano-playing robot developed by leading AI lab that can also read human emotions

    Videos

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery.

    This week’s Classic FM radio highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    King Charles’ Coronation Concert will take place the day after his coronation

    King Charles III’s coronation and concert: what music could feature over the Royal weekend?

    RIOPY

    Meet RIOPY: the unbreakable French pianist who escaped a childhood cult

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Google Doodle
    • Quizzes
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • LBC News
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2023
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager