New documentary follows ‘hero’s journey’ of Lexington Philharmonic’s conductor

Once director Maggie Contreras got the go-ahead to make a documentary film about the only competition in the world for female orchestra conductors, she talked to all 14 finalists to see whose stories she wanted to include in the movie.

All of the women had compelling tales of trying to break into one of the hardest professions for women to work in. But one was, “the hero on the hero’s journey,” Contreras said.

That woman was Mélisse Brunet, who would be named music director of the Lexington Philarmonic Orchestra just four months after participating in the bi-annual La Maestra competition in her hometown of Paris, France.

“Whether Mélisse was going to win or lose, or however she was going to do in the competition, it was clear to me that she had the most at stake, and that her human journey was what was important to focus on,” Contreras said.

That means that when “Maestra” has its Lexington premiere at the Kentucky Theatre on May 9, area music fans will see Brunet in a way they have never seen a Philharmonic music director. Brunet will participate in a question-and-answer discussion following the screening, and Contreras is sure local fans will want to hear her thoughts on the film.

“The simple fact that Mélisse was going back to the place that she is from, to a place that she left for a reason, that automatically gave her a steeper hill to climb than any of the other 13 contestants,” Contreras said. “No one else was preparing that incredibly large amount of difficult music on top of emotionally having to prepare to go home to a place that doesn’t feel like home.”

Why are there so few women conductors?

The story of Brunet’s tenure in Lexington, which concludes its second season May 18 at the Singletary Center for the Arts with a concert featuring a world premiere by Lexington native Shawn Okpebholo, has been that of a vibrant, exemplary musician leading exciting and innovative shows that are often sold out.

But when Brunet announced her intention to become a conductor as a teenager, she found almost no support, numerous roadblocks, and even derision from those closest to her who told her there were no women conductors. She has said the United States was the first place she found genuine affirmation for her talent and ambition, and even here, only two women have been named music directors of major American orchestras.

She is the first woman to be music director of the Lexington Philharmonic, which is pretty much true of any woman who has been named to that post with any orchestra.

Contreras spends time in the movie showing what a conductor does, which she said explains in part why it has been such a limited field for women.

“Most people don’t get to see what it takes to bring a massive piece of music to life on the stage,” she said. “Someone says in the film, it’s an odd profession. Not very many people have it. It’s a job that is a position of power. And so of course, there aren’t very many women doing it.”

David Letterman a key backer

Brunet said Contreras and her team first met her at her then-home in Iowa City, Iowa, where she was the director of the orchestra program at Iowa State University, showing her working with students. The film crew was first to greet her at the airport in Paris and omnipresent in the hotel and at the competition venue. The cameras also followed Brunet to her childhood home.

“It’s been very moving for the five of us who are on screen because they go deep into our lives as a documentary does,” Brunet said. “There are some tough topics and also a lot of joy in the movie. The ladies that were in it, we all think that they did a fantastic job picturing what a real woman conductor experiences in her life.”

Among interesting turns are competitors experiencing sexism even in a competition for women.

“This film is a Trojan horse for women’s social issues and female empowerment,” Contreras said. “First and foremost, this film is supposed to be entertaining, fun, keep you at the edge of your seat, you get to look at beautiful things, you get to be close to a conductor in a way you’ve never been before, and you get to hear incredible music. And hopefully your takeaways are concepts and ideas and tools for which to be a better person walking in this world and being able to empathize or sympathize with what women have to go through. I could have made a film about a competition for women trying to achieve any form of leadership positions — It did not have to be about conductors — and I am fairly certain that we would have been exploring the same themes that we explore in this film.”

Brunet attended the “Maestra” world premiere in New York City at Robert De Niro’s Tribecca Festival where she walked the red carpet along with Contreras and executive producer David Letterman. Contreras said the comedian and former talk show host was the first financial backer of the movie, which was rather expensive to make, and his support attracted additional investors.

“There were a few good men who without their support, and without their use of their privilege, and power, this film, very likely would not have been made,” Contreras said.

Brunet reflects on the filmmakers, “It’s a fierce competition, and for me, it would not have been as memorable, as fun, as unique, if they had not been there. It was totally a different experience, and I’m so thankful for that.”

‘Maestra’ premiere

When: May 9, 7:15 p.m.

Where: Kentucky Theatre, 214 E. Main St.

Tickets: kentuckytheatre.org