Passing the baton to female conductors

When the National Concert Hall linked up last year with Grant Thornton and world-famous British conductor Alice Farnham to introduce an inaugural female conductor programme for 12 suitable candidates, it was a truly groundbreaking venture for music in Ireland

Lynsey Callaghan, Santa Ignace, Grace Bergin, Catriona Clarke, Maebh Martin, Naoise Whearity, Siobhra Quinlan, Raeghynya Zutshi and Molly Burke, who are participating in the first NCH Female Conductor Programme this year Pic: Mark Stedman

Whenever you think of Sweden and music, I bet ABBA spring to mind first. But never Elfrida Andrée, a Swedish musician who is an icon for aspiring women musicians everywhere.

Andrée (1841-1929) was an organist from Gothenburg who composed everything from chamber to symphonic and religious to opera. She also conducted orchestras and ensembles, and - not surprisingly - found time to be a suffragette as well.

Fast-forward, then, and dwell on the ...