Women of Notes

Objective: To produce The New York Pops’ first concert celebrating female composers and lyricists

Venue: Carnegie Hall

Total Female Songwriters Represented: 16

Total Complimentary Student Tickets Distributed: 100

Total Audience Members Reached: 2,804

Notable Achievement: Facilitated Sara Bareilles’ performance debut at Carnegie Hall

In 2017, I conceived and produced a concert for Carnegie Hall called Women of Notes: In Dedication to Female Composers and Lyricists. The program — the first of its kind in the history of The New York Pops — spanned generations and genres, representing the music and lyrics of Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Lynn Ahrens, Tracy Chapman, Betty Comden, Markéta Irglová, Carole King, Carolyn Leigh, Dolly Parton, Mary Rodgers, Valerie Simpson, Jeanine Tesori, and Sara Wordsworth. In addition to headlining performances by Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, the evening included guest appearances by songwriters Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, and Shaina Taub (who each performed one of their own original compositions).

Composer/lyricist Georgia Stitt also performed that evening, debuting a brand-new piece. In 2020, when I invited Ms. Stitt to create a PSA in support of The New York Pops, she explained what the concert meant to her:

“When the piece premiered, it was programmed right before intermission. And so after the piece was over, I came back to my seat in the hall, and it happened to be when everyone was getting in line to go to the bathroom. And my girls -- my daughters -- who were 9 and 12 at the time, were waiting in line in the bathroom. And so I came out in my big formal gown and they went 'Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, we loved your music.' And all the women in line looked up and they watched that moment happen. And I thought how significant it was for them, how significant it was for me, and for the women around us to watch that moment happen, for a woman to have her piece premiered at Carnegie Hall in that way.”

Photo Credit for step-and-repeat image of Sara Wordsworth, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Betsy Wolfe, Sara Bareilles, Georgia Stitt, Shaina Taub, and Lynn Ahrens: Richard Termine

Photo Credit for concert images of Georgia Stitt, Ingrid Michaelson/Betsy Wolfe, and Sara Bareilles: Richard Termine