It is unfortunate that the Boston Symphony Orchestra considers adding the work of minority and women composers to its programming to be a challenge rather than an opportunity (“Musicians press BSO to face the music on white male canon,’’ Page A1, Dec. 20). And it’s rather disingenuous of the BSO to say that only the traditional canon brings out Boston audiences, given the enthusiastic reception by packed symphony audiences for new music in recent years.

Thoughtful programming could readily include work by other than white male composers in many multi-composer concerts. Neither the orchestra nor its audience can enjoy, respect, or admire what they do not know.

There is also the route of commissioning new work by diverse composers, giving Boston audiences something of a proprietary stake in presenting original first-rate composition.

Where is the creative and constructive thinking about this on the part of the BSO?

Marilyn Richardson

Watertown