Why is Women’s History Month important to you?
Ima Hogg, the passionate Texan philanthropist and founder of the Houston Symphony.
Rian Craypo: Women have always been doing the work, but visibility is key for new generations to understand who has come before, how they laid the groundwork for today’s much more inclusive environment, and what it might mean for future growth. This month is a chance to celebrate our mentors, teachers and people we admire, and perhaps learn about new-to-us people and events.
Aralee Donough: I feel lucky to have had some really great public school teachers, both men and women. Starting in junior high school, our teachers encouraged discussion and debate in the classroom, with an emphasis on current events, equal rights, and other issues. During those same years, my father was writing songs for the ABC TV series Schoolhouse Rock, and he wrote one about how women got the right to vote called “Sufferin’ Till Suffrage.” It aired nationally in 1976, the year of America’s bicentennial.
There was widespread sentiment at that time to discover and acknowledge the role of women in the history of our nation, which must have led to the creation of Women’s History Month in 1980.
Do you have any female role models or mentors (musicians, composers, teachers, etc.) who inspired you/helped you in your career as a musician? Who are they?
RC: My mother, Lee Charlton, plays piano and sings; her mother, Suzanne Rhinehart, played the cello; and her mother, Mary Louise Halford (nee Gale), was a professional violinist and teacher. My dad’s mother, Landon (Cutty) Crump, and her four sisters all played piano and sister Argie (Frances Argyle Crump) was concertmistress of the Alexandria Symphony for some time. They were taught piano by their grandmother, Julia Preston Cutler, who played keyboards in silent movie theaters. They were all part of families that valued music and encouraged their children to explore music if they were so inclined. Both my parents never hesitated in supporting my love for music and my desire to become a professional musician. They saw it as a valid career choice for me and worth investing in, compatible with their and my definition of “success” and my desires for a family. My high school band director, Patricia Templin, and my undergraduate teacher at UT Austin, Kristin Wolfe Jensen, are both huge inspirations. Ms. Jensen and I have worked on several projects together and are now friends.
Rian Craypo’s great grandmother, Mary-Louise Gale, pictured with her violin.
When I was coming up into the profession, three top orchestras had women principal bassoonists: Nancy Goeres in Pittsburgh, Judy LeClaire in New York, and Sue Heineman in [the] National [Symphony Orchestra]. Everywhere I went (school, festivals, competitions, concerts) I encountered female peers, teachers, performers, and administrators succeeding in the industry at a high level. Not to mention the legions of women behind the scenes facilitating the on-stage work that gets the most attention. At the Houston Symphony, we have women in many senior management positions and many positions on the Board making the decisions about where the Symphony goes next, as well as staff, League members, and donors in support positions. I see women valuing themselves and confident in what they bring to the table, and I strive to do the same.
AD: My chief mentor as an aspiring flutist in high school was my flute teacher, Nadine Asin, former Piccoloist of Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival. My family and I lived out in the country in Pennsylvania, and we would drive into New York City once a week for my flute lesson. I was in awe of her beautiful sound quality, musicianship, and technique. She was a young woman already making her way in the highly competitive environment of New York, playing regularly with the New York Philharmonic and other top ensembles. She was a demanding instructor and that made it clear to me what the standards were and how much I needed to improve if I wanted to become a professional.
What advice would you give to any girls or women who want to have a career as a professional musician?
RC: There are many reasons why a career in music is difficult, but your gender identity should not be one of them. Seek out teachers and mentors who encourage you, the human, to do your absolute best and take the path that is right for your values and your life. Surround yourself with peers who do the same. Understand the history of women’s rights and what a women-friendly environment looks like, and advocate for yourself and others if your needs aren’t being met.
AD: I’d give the same advice to anyone: take responsibility for your progress and your dreams, really own them. Then set out and do the work, immerse yourself!
