The new edition of the OLA Women’s Forum will take place from 19 September as part of the second edition of Abram Alas, organised by the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo. The forum will explore topics such as the professional development of women in the music industry and the creation of opera in the 21st century from the perspective of female composers and librettists. Registration opens on 15 August via the theatre’s website.

With the aim of fostering reflection, discussion and collaboration on topics related to gender equity and women’s leadership, the well-established OLA Women’s Forum will hold an in-person edition on 19, 20 and 21 September at the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, as part of the second Abram Alas: Expanding Voices, Transforming the Industry gathering.

The forum will address themes such as the professional development of women in the music industry and opera creation in the 21st century, through the lens of female composers and librettists.

As a complementary activity to the gathering, the opera Porgy & Bess by George Gershwin will premiere on Friday 19 September, under the musical direction of Roberto Minczuk and stage direction by Grace Passô.

Registration for the event will open on Tuesday 15 August through the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo’s official website.

About Abram Alas

Abram Alas is a platform dedicated to exploring and promoting practices that foster equity in the performing and musical arts industries. Bringing together experts, artists and sector leaders, it provides a space for discussing strategies to tackle inequality, broaden opportunities and envision a more inclusive and diverse artistic future.

Its first edition in 2024 focused on topics such as the participation of women in the music industry, diversity and inclusion in the classical performing arts, and gender studies and their impact on today’s musical landscape.

About the OLA Women’s Forum

The OLA Women’s Forum is an initiative that seeks to support and promote the participation of women in the sector, as well as to provide tools to develop female leadership. Founded in 2023 during OLA’s 16th Annual Conference in Manaus, Brazil, the Women’s Forum forms part of OLA’s wider sectoral forums, each driven by teams from the theatres and companies that make up the network.

To date, the forum has held sessions at the 2024 conference in Santiago de Chile and the 2025 conference in Valencia, Spain. Additionally, in 2025 the forum is running a Mentoring Programme in collaboration with the Chilean organisation Mujeres Empresarias, with the aim of supporting and strengthening the professional development of women working in the theatres, festivals and opera companies that make up the OLA network.