Although women are the majority in music conservatories, the reality is that they encounter a glass ceiling when trying to become conductors in Spain. And it is that of the 34 orchestras of the Spanish Association of Symphony Orchestras, only two have a woman as principal director.

Isabel Rubio, orchestra director, states in this regard that it is “a position that, traditionally, Because he was the leader of a human group, he was masculine“Luckily, something is changing, since, as Isabel defends, “music does not understand gender”, although there is still a long way to go.

Natalia Cides, violinist, says that when she has collaborated with orchestras, the same story has always been repeated: “During the entire season of an orchestra, in one year, a woman might come, and we would play every week.” “And it won’t be because there aren’t women at the same level as those men, even better on some occasions, but, They are simply not given that opportunity.“, criticizes, for his part, Conrado Moya, soloist of ‘Marimba’.

And when they are given the opportunity, especially young women like Isabel Rubio, who aspire to be one of those regular directors, the demand is greater: “From minute zero, Before you go on stage, they are already demanding 120 from youand if you make a mistake, you go down to 50% credibility,” says the orchestra director, who is already a reference for many young women.

Rubio maintains that there are brilliant women who can perform this position equally, or even better, than many of the current directors, which is why, he affirms, “they should be made to look at it.” Only then will parity cease to be a utopia.