Classical Music

Women in Classical Music

If you look at the listings of the major orchestras in America you will see two things in common; very few of them are programming major pieces by women composers, and almost none have a woman on the podium. Despite the abundance of wonderful compositions by women, the world of classical music has been, for centuries, a man’s world.

Clara Schumann - distinguished pianist and composer

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM | By Ruth Phinney

Published February 8, 2018 at 1:43 PM EST

Clara Wieck Schumann was one of the most distinguished German pianists of the 19th century. She was one of the first to perform from memory, making it the standard for concert performance. She and her husband Robert mentored the young Johannes Brahms, and Clara was the first to perform Brahms’ music in public. Listen to Clara's Piano Works.

This post is part WXXI Classical 91.5’s celebration of Women’s History Month. For more of these stories and other resources, check out Celebrating the Contributions of Women to Classical Music.