Gabriella Di Laccio, an award-winning soprano and prominent activist, has emerged as a leading voice in the fight for gender equality in the music industry. As the founder and curator of Donne, Women in Music, a charitable foundation dedicated to achieving gender parity, Laccio's tireless efforts have brought about significant change and garnered international recognition.
Laccio's journey towards advocacy began with a personal revelation sparked by a stroll under Southbank's bridge, where she discovered the International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. This encounter led her to address the underrepresentation of women composers in classical music and sparked the inception of the Donne Foundation.
Since its establishment six years ago, the Donne Foundation has grown into an internationally respected organization, offering free multimedia resources and expanding its Big List of women composers to over 5000 names. The foundation has curated playlists for Apple Music, partnered with prestigious institutions like the Royal Albert Hall, and received commendation from the Oscars® for its contributions to music resources.
Despite operating without funding, Laccio and the Donne Foundation have commissioned new works by women, recorded albums, published groundbreaking research, and organized events focused on diversity in music. The foundation's impact extends beyond classical music, advocating for gender equality across the entire music industry.
Laccio's advocacy efforts have not gone unnoticed. She has been recognized by the BBC as one of the 100 most inspirational and influential women in the world, and her achievements have earned her prestigious awards such as the Air Europa 'Classical Act of the Year' and the Richard III Prize.
The recent success of ‘Let HER MUSIC Play’, a 24-hour live streaming concert featuring exclusively women and non-binary composers, highlights her commitment to driving change. The event, which aimed to break a Guinness World Record, showcased the immense talent of female musicians while advocating for greater visibility and recognition in the industry.
Laccio's impact extends beyond her advocacy work. In a recent incident involving gender-motivated harassment at a university, her intervention led to the reopening of the case, a formal apology from the professor, and the implementation of new training modules on gender equity and inclusivity.
As Laccio continues to champion gender equality in music, her success serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring musicians and activists alike. With proper support, the Donne Foundation's achievements offer a glimpse into the transformative power of collective action in reshaping the music industry for the better.