Center for Humanities Presents: Venice’s Lost Virtuosa: Anna Bon and the World of Professional Women Musicians in the 18th Century
Anna Bon is one of many young women who trained at the Ospedale della Pietà, the renowned Venetian music school for girls now best remembered for its famous male teachers, especially Antonio Vivaldi. Looking beyond that familiar narrative, this lecture and performance will trace the career of Bon — a rare 18th‑century woman who navigated a complex professional landscape to achieve lasting public recognition through music publishing.
Bon’s remarkable first publication — a collection of six flute sonatas produced when she was only 17 — reveal how she positioned herself within a rapidly expanding market of amateur male musicians by capitalizing on the growing popularity of the flute, the prestige of the Ospedale and ultimately her femininity. Interwoven with a live performance on Baroque flute with harpsichord, this presentation will explore how Bon’s music provides a unique opportunity to explore the gendered relationship between amateur male musicians and a young, professional female composer in the 18th century.
Kimary Fick is a senior instructor of music history at Oregon State, specializing in historical performance practice. In addition to her research on 18th century music, she serves as artistic director for Chamber Music Corvallis. Fick also performs music of the Baroque and Classical eras on historical flutes and recorders, performing regularly with the Oregon Bach Collegium.
Tung Nguyen is an award-winning pianist, educator and scholar whose work bridges performance, pedagogy and research. He is an instructor of music at OSU.