From Kitchen to Carnegie Hall: Ethel Stark and the Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra

Musicologist Maria Noriega Rachwal brings to life the incredible story of the Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra and the groundbreaking women who defied custom, class barriers, and sexism to create breathtaking music. The Montreal Women’s Symphony Orchestra (MWSO) was formed in 1940, the same year Quebec women achieved the right to vote. At the time it was unheard of for women to be members of a professional orchestra, let alone play “masculine” instruments like the bass or trombone. Yet despite these formidable challenges, the MSWO became the first all-women orchestra in Canadian history, the first orchestra to represent Canada in New York City’s Carnegie Hall, and one of its members also became the first Canadian black woman to play in a symphony in Carnegie Hall. While the MWSO has paved the way for contemporary female musicians, the stories of these women are largely missing from historical records. From Kitchen to Carnegie Hall illuminates these revolutionary stories, including the life of the incredible Ethel Stark, the co-founder and conductor of the MWSO. Ethel’s work opened doors of equal opportunity for marginalized groups and played an important role in breaking gender stereotypes in the music world.