Abbie Conant: The Trombonist Who Shattered the Glass Ceiling

READ PINNED COMMENT FOR MAJOR CORRECTION!!
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[@TheTromboneChannel]

MAJOR CORRECTION ACCORDING TO ABBIE CONANT!!! There is one factual error that I should correct. I didn’t lie about my gender in my 1980 application for the Munich Philharmonic. In fact, applicants back then were required to include a photo with their application. I was living in Italy at the time and had never been to Germany. I didn’t even know that women there could face problems in orchestras and thus had no reason to hide my gender. The reason my application got through is that the orchestra decided to invite everyone and hold the first round behind a screen. This was very rare in Germany in those days, but they were used for my audition because of special circumstances. A young local trombonist had applied for the job. The bass trombonist in the Munich Phil, Robert Meissner, was a friend of both the young trombonist and his father (who was also a trombonist.) He was thus trying to set the job up for the son. The first trombonist in the orchestra, Dankfart Schmidt, got wind of this and objected. He thus persuaded the administration to invite every applicant and hold the first round of the audition behind a screen. The applications were thus not closely scrutinized and everyone was invited. To preserve anonymity at the audition, no names were listed and everyone played behind a screen. Months later I learned that after I won the audition, Robert Meissner was so furious he invited Dankfart out to the parking lot for a fist fight. Dankfart declined. I showed up for work at the beginning of the season and had no idea of the troubles I would be walking into. Many thanks to Jack for putting my story into a style that fits the younger generation. Unfortunately, it's still relevant. Jack's KZbin "Trombone Channel" is a real service to the community.

[@nadiva]

What an astounding history of courage and principled endurance! And record-keeping! So important to hear all the details. I remember being in the semi-finals for a bassoon position with the Philadelphia Orchestra in the early 1980's, and Muti listened an unlit cigarette dangling from his lower lip, radiating restless boredom.... I thought he did that for everyone but now I wonder. Your example is incredible, thank you.

[@russ5271]

Jack Burrows should, out of courtesy, edit the portion that has misinformation. Also, putting out a video about a person without verifying the facts with that person is irresponsible. I would force you to change it or take down, legally.

[@photon6100]

Damn,Abbie. This fight is impressive. And you can play like a wizard. I love that Hard Times come Again No More was in the last minute of this vid.

[@zemry]

Outstanding trombonist but more importantly, a woman who successfully challenged gender basis. She is a true pioneer and female civil rights activist.

[@dr.alaricshawncastleberry6789]

It is shameful that Abbie had to endure such harassment. No person should have to suffer the way she did. Her perseverance and determination is a testament to her strength of character.

[@mrtn2233]

Great story! Just to correct a detail: Vinko Globokar is Slovene, not French. Although he was born in France, both parents were from Slovenia and he returned to Ljubljana when he was 13.

[@EmbouchureDystonia]

Thank you so much for making this video over Abbie's battle with gender bias. She is a hero and deserves so much honor and respect not only for her renown abilities and talent, but also for surviving what she endured.

[@Bro-bv4rw]

What is the name of the trombone solo that you use in your intro?

[@bent_rombone]

Rimsky Korsakov trombone concerto

[@Bro-bv4rw]

@@bent_rombone thank you

[@bobboscarato1313]

@@bent_rombone Probably the most famous trombone concerto in the world.

[@BillSmith-rx9rm]

Years ago the principal trumpet in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was a woman. Amazing player.

[@sergheibolun5040]

Mrs. Marie Speziale

[@annakimborahpa]

Is this the story of Conant & the Barbarian?

[@Logans_Music]

When are you gonna make a video on the different types of valves? I can't find anything to research.

[@TheTromboneChannel]

That’s in the pipeline.

[@bobboscarato1313]

@@TheTromboneChannel Did you mean the spit valve? Or the valves in the bass and contrabass trombones? Well there are bunches of different trombones out there!

[@TheTromboneChannel]

@@bobboscarato1313 the f attachment that changes the key of the horn

[@bobboscarato1313]

@@TheTromboneChannel Got ya. Thanks!

[@ernestcassler2505]

Wow ridiculous. Glad she kept up the good fight.

[@W1ngZ3ro]

jesus

[@jimryon1002]

This is an excellent video, but I have one complaint: the narrator talks too fast. I am an older person, and I cannot follow the rapid flow of the content. Please slow down and leave room between your phrases.

[@TheTromboneChannel]

You’re right.

[@JHCMPR]

a great way to combat that is to change the playback speed

[@BBZ9000]

I wish she would have came to the US and taken a great position. I know we weren’t so prejudiced towards women musicians in the 80s and 90s we were behind that finally by then.

[@treelee8485]

Great story, thanks for putting this together :) Just one small problem - you talk too fast, seriously !

[@TheTromboneChannel]

I have heard that fast talking comment more than once - I have thought about re making this entire thing.

[@SpockMonroe]

The fast. rapid, monotone parsing and patter of the narrator is Ffing awful and makes this unwatchable. Such a shame. Nesti time, how about some concern for quality.

[@popinmid]

Intriguing story! Unfortunately, the innumerable grammatical errors and mispronunciations rendered this narration virtually impossible to tolerate. Brava, Abbie, for your skills and your career! Yours is a story worth hearing, it’s a crying shame this narrator is such a poor communicator.

[@TheTromboneChannel]

That’s an accurate statement

[@blesstoad]

Though mispronunciation is indeed annoying, I wouldn't say the narrator is a poor communicator. Pronouncing any word/name in a language different from yours is truly difficult

[@TheTromboneChannel]

@@blesstoad I'll be honest here, I could and should have done better. I actually have thought about remaking this video in its entirety.

[@WatchClock99]

you paint europe in such a bad light bro...

[@russ5271]

With the intensive research that was done on this video, one would think that the author would get all the correct facts. If he would have read the last chapter of ‘Blink’ by Malcom Gladwell, perhaps he would have prevented a great faux pas. This video should be taken off KZbin, edited and corrected. She did not misrepresent her gender for the audition.

[@TheTromboneChannel]

Apologies. But every source I was able to access for free said otherwise. Therefore, I didn’t feel it necessary to buy the book.

[@Zweinds]

What are you on about

[@russ5271]

Well then, there you have it! Incomplete research and wrong ‘free’ information which further spreads rumours. All that needs to be done is edit and fix it. That’s all.

[@TheTromboneChannel]

Easier said than done. After uploading, you can only cut parts of the end and beginning. Anything in the middle can’t be messed with at all. In the grand scheme of things, this is minor. I’ve included the correction in the pinned comment out of courtesy for accuracy and out of respect for Abbie.

[@russ5271]

I see the point of the uploading. However, this is something that will be on this media forever. Go back to your original and edit it. Then reload to the channel and delete the previous. That is the proper thing to do. I think you did a great job on the video. I know also, the time and effort put into it. The words and explanation afterwords will go unnoticed but the video will stay. Your efforts will be appreciated by many in the future if you edit the video. Best of luck and thank you for this important contribution to what Abbie went through and what persists even today in other forms in the symphonic realm and perhaps others as well. I applauded your efforts

[@danmart1879]

Talented trombonist, but it appears fraud is part of her success. Talent should not be judged apart from integrity.

[@csatterley]

Yeah, that really isn't the point here.

[@LateNightMessages]

also as per the creator of the video, he made a mistake in saying she intentionally lied about being a woman. the Munich Philharmonic themselves accidentally addressed Abbie as “Herr” Conant instead of “Frau” Conant in their audition invitation. no ill will towards you just wanted to point out the mistake. they held a screened audition, and she won out because of her talent.