The best account of the Conant story is by Conant’s husband,
William Osborne, “You Sound like a Ladies Orchestra.” It is
available on their Website, www.osborne-
conant.org/ladies.htm.
The following articles were particularly helpful on changes
in the world of classical music: Evelyn Chadwick, “Of Music
and Men,” The Strad (December 1997): 1324–1329; Claudia
Goldin and Cecilia Rouse, “Orchestrating Impartiality: The
Impact of ‘Blind’ Auditions on Female Musicians,” American
Economic Review 90, no. 4 (September 2000): 715-741; and
Bernard Holland, “The Fair, New World of Orchestra
Auditions,” New York Times, January 11, 1981.