College bans men-only concert programmes

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance in east London has said it will ensure that at least half the music it performs in future will be by women composers, with a particular focus on ‘missing’ modern British women.

The Labour MP Harriet Harman, Trinity’s chair, said: ‘Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance will encourage and inspire its students – many of whom will go on to shape the future of the performing arts –to engage with the historic issue of gender imbalance in music by women, and ensure that it does not continue into the next generation. I welcome this bold initiative to raise awareness of the disparity that has long existed in music and shine a light on music that has so frequently been overlooked. I am also greatly looking forward to hearing some of the musical treasures by women I might not otherwise have had the chance to hear.’

Climate change or virtue signalling?

Time will tell.