The Roanoker - May/June 2021 - 19
(Life to right): Erica Sipes, Sarah Wardle-Jones and Michelle Smith-Johnson
Introducing Audiences to
Women Composers
written by Ashley Fellers The Alma Ensemble group wants to ensure female voices
are heard as composers.
CARLY C. PHOTOGRAPHY
L
isten in on a performance by the
Alma Ensemble, and it's a good bet
you might not recognize a single
song. In fact, that's the whole idea. The
three-woman group hopes to connect
audiences to the work of women composers
- especially if listeners have never heard of
them.
" It just [feels] like we're righting
a wrong of history, " says flutist Sarah
Wardle-Jones. " This music ... deserves to
be heard. "
Pianist Erica Sipes still remembers
when the light bulb went on for her.
Wardle-Jones had invited her to join in a
recital of music exclusively by women, and
TheRoanoker.com
" I think I only knew one of the composers
on the program, " Sipes recalls. " I've been
a musician for 40 years now ... That's
shocking. "
Over wine and cheese one night,
Sipes, Wardle-Jones and clarinetist
Michelle Smith-Johnson chatted about
the cultural forces that had kept women's
music from the spotlight ... and decided
to do something about that. The three
formed a collective in 2019, and they've
been discovering, performing and
commissioning fresh music ever since.
" It's been wonderful exploring how
much we didn't know, " says Smith-Johnson.
When they perform, the Alma
Ensemble frequently contrasts traditional
works with that of newer, sometimes
more experimental composers, such as
Katy Abbott, Sally Whitwell and Valerie
Coleman.
" There's tons of living women composers
trying to make their way, " says Sipes. " So
then that poses another question: what
can we do to ensure their voices are heard
while they're alive? "
Both online and in-person, the group
takes an interactive, conversational
approach to their work, hoping to create
a comfortable atmosphere for folks who
might not normally show up for a classical
concert.
" Our top target audience is the curious, "
Smith-Johnson says. " If you want to learn
and talk ... share ideas ... we love to hear
what people think! "
To keep up with the Alma Ensemble's
newly commissioned works and listen in
on their Summer Interview Series, go to
almaensemble.org. I
MAY/JUNE 2021 19
http://www.almaensemble.org
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The Roanoker - May/June 2021
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