Discover the year's most critically acclaimed albums
By the age of 19, Gow already had two albums released. As of 2023, she has released 10 albums. Phamie Gow's 'War Song' is one of her most famous compositions.
Sources: (Classic FM) (BBC Music Magazine) (uDiscover Music) (Audio Captain)
The English composer is best known for her film scores. In 1998, Dudley won an Oscar for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score for 'The Full Monty.' She also worked as music producer for the 'Les Misérables' (2012), among others.
The daughter of the accomplished Polish composer Andrzej Panufnik also found success as a composer. The British composer has written multiple pieces, including 'Westminster Mass,' which was commissioned for Westminster Cathedral Choir to celebrate Cardinal Hume's birthday.
Rachel Portman is yet another successful composer known for scoring films, among which is 2000's 'Chocolat.' In 1996, Portman became the first female composer to win an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Musical or Comedy Score for 'Emma.'
At the age of 19, the French composer became the first woman to win the Prix de Rome composition prize, for her piece 'Faust et Hélène.' Fun fact: the asteroid 1181 Lilith was named after her!
As a viola player, Jocelyn Pook collaborated with numerous music artists, including Massive Attack. The English composer's music can be heard on the soundtrack of movies such as 'Eyes Wide Shut' (1999).
The English composer wrote the suffragette anthem 'March of the Women.' Smyth, an active member of the movement herself, composed numerous works for piano, chamber music, and operas, to name a few.
Debbie Wiseman is not only an outstanding composer, but she's also an accomplished conductor. The British composer wrote the score to 'Wilde' (1997), among others. More recently, in 2023, Wiseman composed new music for the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.
The French composer wrote numerous works in the 1920s, including the 'Piano Concerto,' as well as the ballets 'Le marchand d'oiseaux' and 'La nouvelle Cythère.'
Germaine Tailleferre was the only woman in the famed group of composers called Les Six.
Amy Beach was America's first successful female composer. Though she went on to make it in Europe, too. Some of Beach's famous works include 'Mass in E-flat major' and the 'Gaelic Symphony.' The latter was the first symphony composed by an American woman.
The British composer is best known for operas such as 'Blond Eckbert' and 'Armida.' In 2014, Weir was appointed Master of the King's Music by Queen Elizabeth II, becoming the first woman to hold the office.
The London-born violist and composer was one of the first female players to perform in an orchestra professionally. Best known for her chamber pieces and vocal compositions, Clarke went on to win the 1919 Berkshire Festival of Music Competition in America, with her 'Viola Sonata.'
Italy's Isabella Leonarda joined a Ursuline convent at the age of 16 and remained there for the rest of her life. It was there that she wrote numerous compositions.
The wife of pianist Robert Schumann was a distinguished composer herself. At the age of 14, Clara Schumann had already written her piano concert. She went on to play concerts for decades.
The Venezuelan composer, pianist, and singer wrote at least 40 pieces of music, including the hit song 'Tendeur.' Also known as the "Valkyrie of the Piano," Teresa Carreño went on to perform for Abraham Lincoln at the White House in 1863.
The French composer wrote numerous works, including pieces for piano and salon songs. In 1913, Chaminade became the first female composer to be awarded the Légion d'Honneur (the French Order of Merit). "This is not a woman who composes, but a composer who is a woman," said fellow composer Ambroise Thomas about Chaminade.
The daughter of the famous Italian composer Giulio Caccini, she went on to become an influential composer herself. Among her famous works there is 'La liberazione di Ruggiero,' which is considered to be the first opera written by a woman, as well one of the first Italian operas to be performed outside of the country.
A child prodigy, the German composer went on to write more than 460 piano works, though a number of them were published under her brother’s name (famed composer Felix Mendelssohn).
Farrenc was taught the piano by masters such as Ignaz Moscheles and Johann Nepomuk Hummel, and went on to play concerts with her husband, the flutist Aristide Farrenc. She wrote numerous compositions and became a professor of piano at the Paris Conservatory. Farrenc was awarded the Prix Chartier of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1861 and 1869.
Hildegard of Bingen was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, mystic, and composer. Not only did she write outstanding music, she also wrote the words to go with her compositions.
The Austrian composer learned the piano from the famous Joseph Haydn and went on to perform for the Imperial Court and Empress Maria Theresa herself. Martines' standard was so high that she often had guests such as Mozart performing with her. It is believed that her piece 'Mass No. 1 in D Major' inspired Mozart's 'Mass K139.'
Hildegard of Bingen's most popular works include 'Ordo Virtutum,' ‘Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum,’ and ‘A Feather on the Breath of God.’
In 1930, the American composer became the first woman to win a Guggenheim Fellowship to travel to Europe. Seeger wrote brilliant works, including her 1931 'String Quartet.' Fun fact: she was the stepmother of famed folk singer Pete Seeger.
The French composer wrote numerous pieces for harpsichord, as well as violin sonatas. La Guerre is also known for writing secular 'Cantates françoises.'
The duchess is known for having turned her court into an influential cultural center in Germany. Among her best works are a 1765 symphony, an oratorio, and the opera 'Erwin und Elmire.'
The German pianist and composer wrote numerous pieces for violin and piano. Her 1901 concert at London’s Steinway Hall was highly praised by The Times.
The Italian composer and singer was the most prolific secular music composer of her time (among both men and women). Strozzi wrote eight volumes of music, including pieces such as ‘Arie a voce sola,’ ‘Il primo libro di madrigali,’ and ‘Cantate, ariette e duetti.’
Not only was Gipps a terrific composer, she was also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, conductor, and teacher. Gipps is listed by BBC Music as one of the best English composers of all time.
While male composers get all the credit in classic music, there have been many trailblazing women who have made music history. Though many did not get the attention they deserved, there are plenty of female composers who found great success over the years.
From the 12th century to the present day, in this gallery we remember and pay tribute to the outstanding women who shaped the history of music.
The greatest female composers of all time
From the 12th century to the present day
MUSIC Classical music
While male composers get all the credit in classic music, there have been many trailblazing women who have made music history. Though many did not get the attention they deserved, there are plenty of female composers who found great success over the years.
From the 12th century to the present day, in this gallery we remember and pay tribute to the outstanding women who shaped the history of music.