Composers You Should Know: Liza Lehmann

Composers You Should Know: Liza Lehmann

This week we are remembering the life and work of British composer and soprano Liza Lehmann (1862-1918).   Born into a privileged family, Lehmann was given the opportunity to study music from a very early age in voice and composition.  Her teachers included Hamish...
Composers You Should Know: Nancy Dalberg

Composers You Should Know: Nancy Dalberg

July 6 marks the 136th birthday of Danish composer Nancy Dalberg (1881-1949).   Dalberg was a student of Johan Svendsen and Carl Nielsen.  As part of her training with Nielsen, Dalberg was challenged to experiment with orchestration – which led to Nielsen and...
Composers You Should Know: Ruth Schönthal

Composers You Should Know: Ruth Schönthal

This week we are honoring the life and music of German composer, pianist, and educator Ruth Schönthal (1924-2006).  Born in Hamburg, she demonstrated an early talent and became the young student ever accepted to the Stern’sches Konservatorium in Berlin at age five....
Composers You Should Know: Ruth Shaw Wylie

Composers You Should Know: Ruth Shaw Wylie

Saturday, June 24, is the 101st birthday of American composer and music educator Ruth Shaw Wylie (1916-1989).   Born in Ohio, Wylie grew up in Detroit and considered herself to be, “a fairly typical Midwestern composer”.  After earning her PhD in composition at...
Composers You Should Know: Galina Ustvolskaya

Composers You Should Know: Galina Ustvolskaya

Saturday, June 17, would have been the 98th birthday of Russian composer Galina Ustvolskaya (1919-2006). Ustvolskaya studied at the Leningrad Conservatory and was a pupil of Shostakovich who was a champion for her works, even though her style evolved to be distinctly...
Composers You Should Know: Louise Farrenc

Composers You Should Know: Louise Farrenc

Today (May 31) is the 213th birthday of composer, educator, and virtuosic pianist Louise Farrenc (1804-1875). A celebrated composer in her time, she was the student of Muzio Clementi and Anton Reicha.  She had tremendous support of her family, which led to an...