A missing tribute

We had an amazing day yesterday at the BASCA Women in Music discussion. It was a huge privilege to chair the event and find myself sharing a stage with seven extraordinary composers. I'll be writing it up in some detail for the BASCA journal, which will be out in mid December. The energy of the event was so excellent and the audience so engaged and responsive that it is possible there'll be another in the new year, but I can't confirm that yet - please watch this space.

Meanwhile, I was shocked to hear from Nicola LeFanu that yesterday was the 20th anniversary of her mother Dame Elizabeth Maconchy's death and while commemorative festivals of her music were held as far afield as Graz and Austalia, nothing - 00000 - was done about it anywhere in the UK. Please take a minute to listen to her gorgeous setting of Ophelia's Song, sung here by Caroline McPhie with pianist Joseph Middleton.

Here is an excellent extended essay about Maconchy by LeFanu, highly recommended reading.