International Womens Day 2025: Shining A Spotlight On Truro Cathedral's Female Organ Scholars - Käthe Kaufman
International Women's Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women's advancement. Since 1911, IWD belongs to all who care about women's equality, celebrate women's achievement, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to forge gender parity.
We want to shine a spotlight on our fantastic female organ scholars of the past and the great work that they're doing now. We spoke to Käthe Kaufman, who served as organ scholar at Truro Cathedral from 2016-17.
Tell us a bit about you, and what your current musical activities are:
I grew up as a chorister in a relatively rigorous programme (by American standards) and have always loved the repertoire and liturgy of the Anglican choral tradition. At the moment, I am the associate director of music at a large Methodist church in Atlanta, I am chapel organist for the School of Theology at Emory University, and I sing for weekly Evensongs at the Episcopal Cathedral of St Philip. In addition, I play the occasional recital and teach a small studio of piano and organ students. After Easter, I will take up a new role as associate director of music and organist at Trinity Cathedral in South Carolina, where I look forward to accompanying my favourite repertoire and working with choristers in a programme similar to the one that was so pivotal to my own musical and spiritual formation.
What did you learn from being Organ Scholar at Truro, and how has it shaped your music-making?
Being organ scholar at Truro was life-changing in all the best ways. I felt accepted by a community comprising people that shared my somewhat obscure musical and liturgical passions and preferences, I got to experience the intense routine of music-making in a cathedral community for the first time and learned about the discipline and organisation required to thrive therein, and I enjoyed making music at an extremely high quality, both on the inspiring Father Willis and alongside supremely talented colleagues. Being organ scholar at Truro showed me what making music at the highest level could look and feel like, and I was instantly hooked! Even as I have moved on to other positions with different resources, I have the aural and emotional memories of my experiences in Truro to continually inspire me. Also - I was lucky enough to be there for the epic BBC Choral Evensong broadcast on IWD 2017, which I remember very fondly.
Are there things you’ve found difficult about forging a career as a woman in what is still a male-dominated area?
It’s impossible not to notice that female organists remain outnumbered by their male counterparts, and a multitude of factors contribute to this. However, when it comes down to it, how well someone plays the organ or works with a group of choristers has very little to do with their gender. I am grateful to have enjoyed the opportunities I’ve been given thus far, and I am almost certain that none of them would have come my way, had I not grown up as a chorister in a supportive programme. It is a priority of mine to play high-quality music by living composers in recitals and services, and I am always delighted to discover a female composer in this venture. I think every musician today should strive for inclusivity while being vigilant not to fall into tokenism.
Have you got any advice for women thinking about going into music /cathedral music?
In my own journey, I have never had any doubt that cathedral music is what I am called to do, and when that feeling is constantly driving you, it becomes easier to persevere. Focus on your love for the music, especially as and when you might get bogged down in grueling politics or admin.
International Women's Day 2025
Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge gender equality. Collectively for #IWD2025 we can all #AccelerateAction.