Spotlight Media

SWO members have greatly appreciated your perspectives as a German musician, especially as you are on the board of Arbeitskreis Frau und Musik (Archive of Women in Music). How does that Archive compare with SWO’s Directory of Women Composers? The Archive was founded in 1979 and is the largest of its kind in the world. It has more than 32.000 media units by and about 2.000 women composers and conductors, including manuscripts, sheet music, letters, books, sound recordings an

What – and when – was the prompt for you to become an organist? I had always loved music and played the flute and piano. Then our school music teacher gave a demonstration of the organ which was so exciting I asked for lessons. Recently I came across my report and saw the school’s response: "Organ playing is a seedy business for a girl - eerie buildings, cold and mice..." (!) But that didn’t put you off! Had you previously observed that the organ was regarded as a ‘boy’s i

How did you start playing the organ? I enjoyed learning the piano as a child and discovered the joy of singing hymns in church. The church organist said: ‘From the sound of your singing, you must be able to play the organ!’ So I started playing at Sunday services and the congregation’s encouragement prompted me to learn properly. Was it easy to find organ lessons? Sadly, no. Most organists in Japanese parish churches are untrained volunteers. Private lessons from resident