We are committed to
Les Nuits Lyriques
and Présence Compositrices
create the Présence Compositrices Prize
at the International Singing Competition of Marmande
We value the repertoire of melodies by French women composers
The Prix Présence Compositrices, created by Les Nuits Lyriques and the Présence Compositrices promotion and resource center, aims to promote the rich repertoire of French female composers by featuring it in the International Singing Competition, in the Melody category.
This prize, funded by Présence Compositrices for its Festival, supports works composed by women so that they gain the visibility they need among artists and then the public, becoming an integral part of the musical offering and contributing to its diversity and inclusivity.
All candidates in the Competition must submit a program that includes at least one melody by a female composer, which they must perform in the semi-final or final.
You can find works by female composers recommended by Présence Compositrices here. Alternatively, feel free to consult the Ask Clara database, which focuses on works by female composers and already has several thousand entries.
How to participate in the Presence Award?
All candidates are eligible to receive the Présence Compositrices Award. Ideally, the recipient will have chosen their program from the list of composers proposed by Présence Compositrices, but there is no obligation to do so, and each candidate is free to choose their own program.
List of female composers proposed by Présence Compositrices
BARRAINE Elsa (1910 –1999)
BONIS Mel (1858 -1937)
BOSMANS Henriette (1895 -1952)
CANAL Marguerite (1890 –1978)
COVATTI-DUSSAUT Hélène (1910 –2005)
HOLMÈS Augusta (1847 -1903)
JAËLL Marie (1846 –1925)
LABORI Marguerite (1864 –1952)
LELEU Jeanne (1898 –1979)
MAIXANDEAU Marie-Véra (1929 –2018)
MANZIARLY (DE) Marcelle (1899 -1989)
POLIGNAC (DE) Armande (1876 -1962)
PUIG-ROGET Henriette (1910 –1992)
SOHY Charlotte (1887 -1955)
STROHL Rita (1865 –1941)
The Prix Présence Compositrices to be awarded in 2024
Information about Prix Présence Compositrices 2023
Those who choose to compete for the Prix Présence Compositrices must perform two songs by female composers (see attached list of compulsory composers), one of which must be performed in the Final. In short, to compete for the Prix Présence Compositrices, candidates must propose a minimum of two songs by female composers from this list in their program, and perform ONE of them during the preselections OR the semi-final OR ONE during the Final.

Number of candidates registered in Melody
77

Number of male singers registered in melody
23

Number of female singers registered in Melody
54

Number of candidates registered for the prize
48(62%)

Number of male singers registered for the prize
10

Number of female singers registered for the prize
38

Total number of proposed composers
58

number of composers in the programs
38

Number of female composers in the programs
20

Number of people competing for the award mentioning more than 2 women composers in their program
7

total number of mentions of a melody by female composers
134

Number of different melodies by female composers
87
Le Prix Présence Compositrices remis en 2023
Information about Prix Présence Compositrices 2022
Seeing 20 names of women composers, representing 53 different French melodies and 80 mentions of a melody in the programs of the candidates of a competition of the scale of Marmande is a real step forward and a first.
Undeniably, the Prix Présence Compositrices promotes the awareness that there is a repertoire to be explored and facilitates the passage to action. It remains to consolidate this first step and to envisage the way to do it.

Number of candidates registered in Melody
77

Number of male singers registered in melody
30

Number of female singers registered in Melody
47

Number of candidates registered for the prize
31 (40%)

Number of male singers registered for the prize
5

Number of female singers registered for the prize
26

Number of applicants who included female composers in their program (registered or not for the award)
37 (48%)

Percentage of female singers among applicants with female composers on their program
81 %

Percentage of male singers among applicants proposing female composers in their program
19 %

Total number of proposed composers
65

number of composers in the programs
45

Number of female composers in the programs
20

Number of people competing for the award mentioning more than 2 women composers in their program
9

total number of mentions of a melody by female composers
80

Number of different melodies by female composers
53