Ethel Smyth was a pioneering British composer, conductor, and suffragette whose contributions to music and social change have left an indelible mark on history. Born on April 22, 1858, in London, Smyth’s talents and determination defied the gender norms of her time. She not only composed works that would later become staples of the classical music repertoire, but she also passionately advocated for women's suffrage, aligning her musical career with her fight for equality.

Ethel Smyth came from a middle-class family, but her upbringing was marked by tension between her musical ambitions and her family’s expectations. Her father, who was a major general in the Royal Artillery, disapproved of her interest in music, believing that it was unsuitable for women. Despite this, Smyth persevered and began studying music in Leipzig, Germany, where she was one of the few women enrolled at the prestigious conservatory. It was here that Smyth’s musical voice truly began to flourish, and she started to receive recognition for her unique compositional style.

Smyth was not only a composer but also an accomplished conductor. She made history in 1910 when she conducted the first public performance of her Mass in D in London, becoming one of the first women to conduct a major British orchestra. This event further cemented her role as a trailblazer in a field that was largely dominated by men.

Alongside her musical career, Smyth was a fierce advocate for women's rights. She became heavily involved in the women’s suffrage movement and was thoroughly integrated with the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), led by Emmeline Pankhurst. Smyth believed that women should have the right to vote and worked tirelessly to bring attention to the cause.

In 1911, she composed The March of the Women, a rousing anthem that became the suffragette movement’s anthem. Smyth’s activism went beyond music; she was arrested for her participation in protests, and her dedication to the cause made her one of the most prominent suffragettes of her time.

Ethel Smyth’s music is characterized by its boldness and emotional depth. She composed a variety of works, including operas, orchestral music, choral pieces, and chamber music. One of her most famous compositions is the opera The Wreckers (1906), which is considered her masterpiece. The opera, set in a Cornish fishing village, explores themes of guilt, redemption, and human conflict, and it received considerable acclaim for its dramatic intensity and innovative use of orchestration.

You can hear the Overture to The Wreckers at Hereford 2025's opening night evening concert.