Clara Schumann was considered to be the "one and only" of her kind back in her day. Jade Simmons, host of our new podcast Decomposed, writes of how this mentality still permeates classical music today and how that can change.
Clara Schumann, the subject of the first episode of our new Decomposed podcast, is among the greatest women composers. But here are 20 other women composers you should know, too.
In the 1990s, Deborah Borda became the first woman to head a major American orchestra.
Sarah Caldwell made history when she became the first woman to conduct at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, leading a production of Verdi's 'La Traviata.'
Violinist Maud Powell, who died in 1920, became the first female instrumentalist of any instrument for any genre to receive a Grammy lifetime achievement award, but not until 2014.
Nadia Boulanger was an influential teacher to some of the brightest musical minds of the 20th century. She was also the first woman to grace the podium of several major orchestras.
Trumpeter Mary Bowden is the founder of Seraph Brass, an all-female brass ensemble.
American composer Amy Beach's 'Gaelic' Symphony of 1894 was the first symphony to be composed and published by a woman.
Hildegard von Bingen spent most of her life in an isolated, hilltop monastery. She was the first and only 12th-century composer to set verses to music.
Conductor JoAnn Falletta was the first female conductor to lead a major American ensemble.
