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...
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...
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...
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,...
Today marks the 108th birthday of Canadian composer and educator Jean Coulthard. Coulthard’s formal music education began at the Royal Conservatory of Music with Ralph Vaughan Williams. Later, she studied with Béla Bartók, Aaron Copland, and Arnold Schoenberg....
