Claim: Marie-Marguerite-Denis or Marguerite Canal was the first woman in France to conduct an orchestra and the second woman to receive the First Grand Prix of Rome.
Evidence: Marie-Marguerite-Denise Canal (29 January 1890 – 27 January 1978), also known as Marguerite Canal, was a French conductor, music educator and composer. In 1917, she became the first woman in France to conduct an orchestra. In 1919, she was named professor of singing at the Conservatoire and, in 1920, became only the second woman to receive the First Grand Prix of Rome in musical composition with Don Juan, with the congratulations of Camille Saint-Saëns.