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Women in Classical Music

Illustration: uDiscoverMusic
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https://www.udiscovermusic.com/classical-features/best-female-composers/

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.

WXXI Classical is committed to help turn things around by celebrating the achievements of women:  from Hildegarde of Bingen to Jennifer Higdon, performing, conducting, composing and more. You'll hear women highlighted every day, not just during Women's History Month in March, but year round.  It’s time.

There's lots more content online, from blog posts to videos, resources for research, a celebration of Women's Suffrage and even some Classics for Kids audio features and Quizzes.  Please explore the site to find out more.

Learn more about:

Marin Alsop, conductor

Amy Beach, composer

Hildegard von Bingen, composer & mystic  
   
Margaret Bonds, pianist, composer & teacher

Lili & Nadia Boulanger, musicians & teacher

Francesca Caccini, lutenist & composer

Sarah Caldwell, conductor

Valerie Capers, pianist, composer & educator

Wendy Carlos, composer

Cecile Chaminade, composer

Rebecca Clarke, violist & composer

Valerie Coleman, flute & founder of the Imani Winds

Louisa Melvin Delos Mars, composer

Lara Downes, pianist & arts advocate

Armenta Adams Hummings Dumisani, pianist, educator & Founder of the Gateways Music Festival

Leonora d'Este, princess, musician & nun

JoAnn Falletta, conductor

Louise Farrenc, pianist & composer

Renee Fleming, soprano

Gabriela Lena Frank, composer

Sofia Asgatovna Gubaidulina, composer

Evelyn Glennie, percussionist

Hélène Grimaud, pianist

Elizabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, composer

Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violinist

Jennifer Higdon, composer

Sharon Isbin, guitarist

Wang Jie, composer

Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano

Saint Kassiani, composer

Elena Katz-Chernin, composer

Jeanne Lamon, conductor

Libby Larsen, composer

Tania León, composer & conductor

Alma Schindler Mahler, pianist, composer & socialite

Marianna Martines, composer

Missy Mazzoli, composer

Fanny Mendelssohn, composer

Meredith Monk, composer

Eimear Noone, conductor & composer

Jessye Norman, soprano

Nkeiru Okoye, composer

Alondra de la Parra, conductor

Rosephanye Powell, composer

Florence Price, composer

Clara Schumann, pianist & composer

Joanne Shenandoah, Native American musician

Ella Sheppard, pianist & singer

Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen, violinist & composer

Breanna Sinclairé, professional opera singer

Undine Smith Moore, composer

Dame Ethel Smyth, composer

Barbara Strozzi, composer

Marcelle Germaine Taillefesse, composer

Mahani Teave, pianist, educator & environmentalist

Augusta Read Thomas, composer

Ruth Taiko Watanabe, pianist & music librarian