Gender and the Large and Shiny Instruments (GALSI) is an initiative that promotes gender equality for instrumentalists. Formed in 2021, GALSI runs education programmes for young players, is industry facing and engaged in advocacy work, curates concerts celebrating female and non-binary performers, and conducts data collection.   

 

GALSI is run by percussionists Beth Higham-Edwards and Rebecca Celebuski, and french horn player Letty Stott and is a labour of love - being run alongside their careers as performers and educators. GALSI was founded by Beth and Letty as a direct response from their lived experiences as performers playing large and shiny instruments which are male dominated - evidenced by data we collected in 2024 of full-time symphony orchestras and conservatoires in the UK. 

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GALSI is a positive force of change and we are most proud to foster communities of female and non-binary musicians from beginners in their first year picking up an instrument, all the way to world renowned soloists and some of the most exciting players in the industry. 

 

We are working towards achieving our aim for gender equality for instrumentalists through four routes:

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Advocacy - we regularly speak on panels and podcasts (including at the ABO conference 2022), host round table discussions, and chat with industry professionals and music services, as well as carry our message into our daily work.

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Education - we believe that education and the encouragement of young people is key to changing the landscape. In October 2022 we piloted our first holiday course for young women and non-binary people in brass and percussion, and now run this annually during the October half-term, and we held our first Double Bass Day in June 2025. 

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Community - we are fostering a supportive community amongst those who face barriers to the music profession due to their gender. We have hosted two networking events with the Musicians' Union for people who are a minority in their instruments, and we are currently piloting a mentoring programme for music college students over the course of 2025. 

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Spotlighting - we love shouting about fabulous instrumentalists! We often spotlight people on our social media and curate events, such as with the Royal Albert Hall's Late Night Jazz series.