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Tall, Dark and Handsome

In 1980, Abbie Conant was playing trombone with the Royal Opera of Turin.

Who was playing trombone with the Royal Opera of Turin? Abbie Conant was playing trombone with the Royal Opera of Turin. She was doing this in 1970, right? No, she wasn’t doing this in 1970.

She was doing this in 1980.

She was applying to orchestras around Europe.

Who was applying to orchestras around Europe? Abbie Conant was applying to orchestras around Europe.

She was sending out lots of applications, but only received one reply from the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.

What was she sending out? She was sending out lots of applications. Was she receiving many replies? No, she wasn’t receiving many replies. She was receiving one reply.

Abbie was going to audition against 32 other applicants in a blind audition.

Was she going to audition? Yes, she was going to audition. Who was she going to audition against?

She was going to audition against 32 other applicants. Was it going to be a bind audition? Yes, it was going to be a blind audition.

The applicants were playing behind a screen so the judges couldn’t see who was auditioning.

What were the applicants playing behind? The applicants were playing behind a screen.

She was competing against the son of another professional musician, so they decided that a blind audition was the fair thing to do.

Who was she competing against? She was competing against the son of another professional musician.

They weren’t thinking about preventing discrimination against women, but that’s exactly what happened.

Were they thinking about preventing discrimination against women? No, they weren’t thinking about preventing discrimination against women.

The judges were stopping the auditions and choosing Abbie.

Who was stopping the auditions? The judges were stopping the auditions. Who were they choosing? They were choosing Abbie.

The rest of the applicants were being sent home.

What was happening to the rest of the applicants? The rest of the applicants were being sent home.

After the curtain was raised, everyone was feeling shocked. Abbie was a woman.

How was everyone feeling? Everyone was feeling shocked.

They were begrudgingly hiring her, but they were quickly beginning to discriminate against her.

Were they happily hiring her or begrudgingly hiring her? They were begrudgingly hiring her. Were they quickly beginning to discriminate against her? Yes, they were quickly beginning to discriminate against her.

After a year, she was being demoted to a lower position with no explanation.

What was happening after a year? After a year, she was being demoted to a lower position with no explanation.

Abbie was taking the case to court.

Who was taking the case to court? Abbie was taking the case to court.

The orchestra was saying that because she was a woman, she lacked the physical power to play the trombone at the highest level.

Was the orchestra saying that she lacked power? Yes, the orchestra was saying that she lacked power.

Blood tests and lung tests were being performed, but Abbie’s results were showing that her blood and lungs were in excellent condition.

What was being performed? Blood tests and lung tests were being performed. What were the results showing? The results were showing that her blood and lungs were in excellent condition.

One nurse was even thinking that she was an athlete.

Who was thinking that she was an athlete? One nurse was even thinking that she was an athlete.

Independent music experts were being brought in and they were also saying her musical ability was excellent.

Who was being brought in? Independent music experts were being brought in. What were they saying about her musical ability? They were saying her musical ability was excellent.