Rebecca Nederhiser, conductor of the Wartburg Community Symphony, was selected to present her research on female British composers at the International Conductor’s Guild Conference in London.

The conference, held Jan. 2-5 at the Royal College of Music, will celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary. Nederhiser, who spent one week conducting research at the college following the 2024 Kammerstreicher tour, will explore the works of Alice Mary Smith, Dorothy Howell, Avril Coleridge-Taylor, Ruth Gipps and Doreen Carwithen, highlighting the society in which they lived and the works they composed.

“While symphony orchestras are working toward diversifying their concert repertoire, many works by women composers are still relatively unknown,” said Nederhiser. “New research has unlocked a reservoir of works by women composers that has yet to be fully explored. As conductors, we can serve as advocates in championing many of these unknown gems.”

In her work at Wartburg, Nederhiser is intentional in her efforts to showcase underrepresented composers, including women and minorities. Recent selections have included “Dances in the Canebrakes” by Florence Price, whose music manuscripts were found in an attic; the premiere of “Messages from Everywhere,” composed by Jocelyn Hagen; and an orchestral arrangement of “Bal Masqué” by Amy Beach.

At the Royal College of Music, Nederhiser pored over Coleridge-Taylor’s unpublished manuscripts. As she studied them and talked to others who were doing the same, an idea began to take hold.

“It kind of grew in me, this fascination with these women composers who we know nothing about, who haven’t been performed. There just aren’t any resources for conductors like me to even know if we would want to perform them,” she said. “How do we find who owns the works or if rental music is available?”

In answer to her own question, Nederhiser began a database with hard-to-find composers and music she wants to see played by one of the ensembles she conducts. The database, which will be shared with participants at the conference, includes information about the composer and music as well as links to where the music is available or where it is housed if it is not yet available.

“I’m excited for this opportunity to champion the work of these talented women and to learn from conductors and artists from around the world,” Nederhiser said.