by sarah | Mar 25, 2016
Today would have been American composer Julia Perry’s 92nd birthday. Perry was one of the first African American composers to gain acclaim – and establish a career in composition. Her music was largely neoclassical, but also included experimentation with...
by sarah | Mar 9, 2016
Today’s Google Doodle is celebrating the 105th birthday of musician Clara Rockmore. Rockmore was a trained violinist who suffered a physical injury which prevented her from pursing a career in music. That is, until she discovered the theremin. She...
by sarah | Mar 4, 2016
Happy 103rd birthday to American pianist and composer Margaret Bonds! Born and raised in Chicago, Bonds showed an early aptitude for music and composition. She pursued formal education in music, studying at Northwestern University and Juilliard. She then sought...
by sarah | Feb 25, 2016
Today is the 118th birthday of English composer and pianist Dorothy Howell. Howell’s formal music education was at the Royal Academy of Music. Her early success was marked by the premiere of her symphonic poem, Lamia, at the Proms under the baton of Sir Henry...
by sarah | Feb 24, 2016
Happy 132nd birthday to Marguerite Béclard d’Harcourt! A French composer and ethnomusicologist. d’Harcourt studied composition with Abel Decaux, Vincent d’Indy, and Maurice Emmauel. Her compositional output included works for large and small ensembles, including...
by sarah | Feb 18, 2016
Happy birthday to Swedish organist, composer, and conductor Elfrida Andrée! She made history as being the first woman organist in Sweden, as well as the first Swedish woman to conduct a symphony orchestra. Andrée’s work as a composer includes two organ symphonies,...