The 2020 Women Composers Challenge

What is the Women Composers Challenge?

The Women Composers Challenge can include any of these elements:

  1. Including at least once piece by a woman composer on the events that you program in 2020.
  2. Buying 100% sheet music by women composers in 2020.
  3. OR, buying 50% sheet music by women composers in 2020 (whatever percentage is a “challenge” but a feasible one in your setting).
  4. Buying 30% sheet music by African American women composers and other women composers of color in 2020 (or another percentage that is a “challenge” for you in your setting).

How do I connect with other people doing the challenge?

Check out the group “Women Composers Challenge” on facebook, and look for #womencomposerschallenge on social media.

Who is doing the Women Composers Challenge in 2020?

  • Agnes Armstrong, Director of Music and Organist, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Altamont, NY, and Helderberg Reformed Church, Guilderland Center, NY
  • Sarah Bereza, Minister of Music, First Congregational Church of St. Louis, MO
  • Alison Siener Brown, All Saints’ Episcopal, Millington, NJ
  • John Michael Cooper, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX
  • Angela Kraft Cross, Organist and Artist in Residence, The Congregational Church of San Mateo, CA
  • Katherine Foley, Director of Music, Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, Melrose, MA
  • Justan Foster, Music Director, Greenbush Reformed Church, East Greenbush, NY
  • Talia Ilan, Conductor and Radio Music Editor, Israel
  • Ryan Keeling, West Liberty University, WV
  • Hugh McDevitt, Chancel Choir Director, Santa Teresa Hills Presbyterian Church, and Music Director, Community Women’s Chorus, San Jose, CA
  • Stephen O’Bent, Minister of Music & Arts, First Congregational Church, Bellevue, WA
  • Leslie Wolf Robb, Director of Music Ministries, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School, San Diego, CA
  • Michael Smith, Minister of Music, St. Thomas’, Whitemarsh, Philadelphia, PA
  • Natasha Steinmacher, Director of Music Ministry, Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill, NJ
  • Louise Stewart, Director of Multitude of Voyces C.I.C., publisher of Anthology of Sacred Music by Women Composers

Contact Sarah Bereza here if you would like your name added to the list.