International Women’s Day has become a focal point on the performing arts calendar. Driven by campaigns to address systemic inequality at every level of our society, economy and culture, female-identifying performers, composers and artists are finally starting to receive due recognition for their work.

Below is a selection of concerts, broadcasts and special events happening in Australia for International Women’s Day 2022.

SPECIAL EVENTS

ABC Classic is holding its now-annual Festival of Female Composers with four full days of broadcasting devoted to music made by women throughout the ages.

The festival includes:

• Hildathon, featuring six hours of music by Mediaeval composer and polymath Hildegard von Bingen
• The Opera Show – Mairi Nicholson explores the work of women composers from the Baroque period to now
• Classic Drive – in a special episode on International Women’s Day, pianist and composer Belle Chen joins Vanessa Hughes live in the studio
• Game Show – Meena Shamaly celebrates the music of women in video games
• Saturday Baroque explores the women of the Baroque, from Barbara Strozzi and Francesca Caccini to Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre and more
• For The God Who Sings explores seven female composers of sacred music.

Concerts broadcast...