Soprano Lola Ganzarolli champions better support for mothers returning to creative careers
Soprano Lola Ganzarolli launched the Mums in Music initiative to champion working mothers in the arts after research found only 7% of UK women surveyed feel the music sector supports mothers returning to work.
Through her Mums in Music initiative launched in London, soprano Lola Ganzarolli is advocating for flexible working, childcare access and stronger backing for mothers returning to careers in music, journalism and the performing arts.
International soprano, songwriter and mother Lola Ganzarolli is leading a call for better support for mothers returning to careers in music and the wider creative arts through her Mums in Music initiative.
Ganzarolli, who studied in London at the Purcell School, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Academy of Music, introduced the Mums in Music campaign earlier in 2026 at a recital of her original songs at St James's Church in central London.
What the research found
New research conducted by UK Omnibus Group among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 women for the Mums in Music campaign highlights the hurdles facing mothers in creative professions.
Only 7% of women surveyed felt the music industry is good at supporting mothers returning to the workplace after having children. Journalism (6%) and the performing arts (8%) were also rated among the hardest sectors for returning mothers, compared with healthcare (38%), education (35%) and retail (23%) at the top of the table.
Among women surveyed who work across media, marketing, advertising, music and the arts:
- Only one in four (25%) felt financially supported enough to return to work
- Three in four (75%) worried that balancing work and family life would affect their return
- Two in five (40%) cited a lack of workplace accommodations, limited access to affordable childcare and feeling treated differently after becoming a mother
Celebrating motherhood in the arts
Having found pregnancy and motherhood creatively enriching while also experiencing the practical challenges of returning to the concert platform, Ganzarolli founded Mums in Music to encourage arts organisations to back returning mothers with flexible scheduling, childcare support and greater understanding.
Lola Ganzarolli said: "They say it takes a village to raise a child, and very often in modern society we don't have that village who are able to step in. For artists trying to continue their creative career after becoming mothers, a challenging journey is made more difficult by a lack of support from arts organisations.
"This represents a huge loss for the creative sector, as the immense artistic growth women experience with motherhood should be celebrated. With Mums in Music, I hope to establish greater understanding of the needs of mothers returning to their creative careers and a stronger presence for mothers in the arts sphere."
Throughout 2026, Ganzarolli has woven the Mums in Music initiative into her concerts and collaborative performances, bringing together fellow musicians, writers and mothers to discuss creativity and family life.
Story information and photograph supplied by Wayne Terence Dobb at elephant communications on behalf of Lola Ganzarolli and Mums in Music. Photograph credited to Gian Galeazzo Ganzarolli.
Sources · Mums in Music, via elephant communications · Spotted an error? Corrections →
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Frequently asked questions
What is Lola Ganzarolli's Mums in Music initiative?
Mums in Music is a campaign founded by soprano and songwriter Lola Ganzarolli to advocate for mothers returning to work in music and the creative arts. Research commissioned for the campaign among 1,000 UK women found that only 7% felt the music sector was good at supporting returning mothers.