In the 1970s, less than 5% of musicians in the top five U.S. orchestras were women, whereas now that percentage exceeds 30%.

A key reason for the change is that, in the 1970s, orchestras began using blind auditions where candidates, with their names and backgrounds withheld, play for juries from behind a screen. Researchers have found that, even when an orchestra selection committee uses a screen only in the first round of selection, women are 50% more likely to reach the final round of selection than under nonblind conditions. What outcome, beside greater gender equality, has likely resulted from impartiality in orchestras?

better orchestras

worse orchestras

no change to orchestra quality

increased implicit bias from committees in first-round auditions