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.

Gabriela Lena Frank - composer calls upon her Latin American heritage and history in her music

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM | By Ellen Robertson

Published February 22, 2019 at 3:49 PM EST

American composer Gabriela Lena Frank's music is influenced by her Peruvian heritage, and often includes Latin American instruments such as pan flute and charango guitar. She was the subject of the PBS documentary Peregrinos, about her symphony that was inspired by the stories of undocumented Latino immigrants. In 2013, Frank received the Medal of Excellence from the Sphinx Organization, which recognizes extraordinary classical musicians of color. Listen to her piece, "Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout performed by Boston's "A Far Cry!"

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.