women composers
beach
boulanger
clarke
crawford
hensel
kapralova
maconchy
smyth
tailleferre
wieck
About this list: This is by no means the ultimate database of women composers.
In fact, this list represents only a tiny fraction of more than 6000 women composers about whom a record exists (e.g. Aaron Cohen's Encyclopedia of Women Composers lists 6,196 women composers).
Only composers of classical music whose works have been recorded on compact disc, have been included in this database.
Composers are listed in alphabetical order; their name is followed by their date of birth and country of origin.
Where a link to online resources exists it has also been provided. If you know of a woman composer who meets the above criteria but whose name has been omitted, write to us at: society[at]kapralova[dot]org. If you are proposing a contemporary artist, please note that only professionally trained composers whose music has been released by a professional label will be considered, and that the society reserves the right to approve your nomination.
A
Aborn, Lora [1907] USA
Aboulker, Isabelle [1938] France [site in French ]
Acqua, Eva dell [1856-1930] Belgium
Agnesi, Maria Teresa [1720-1795] Italy
Agudelo Murguia, Graciela [1945] Mexico
Alberga, Eleanor [1949] Jamaica
Albert, Adrienne [20th cent.] USA
Alcalay, Luna [1928] Croatia
Alexandra, Liana [1947] Romania
Ali-zadeh, Franghiz [1947] Azerbaijan
Allitsen, Frances [1849-1912] England
Alotin, Yardena [1930-1994] Israel
Alston, Lettie Beckon [1953] USA
Anderson, Beth [1950] USA
Anderson, Ruth [1928] USA
Andrée, Elfrida [1841-1929] Sweden
Anna Amalia, Princess of Prussia [1723-1787]
Anna Amalia von Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach [1739-1807]
Anna Inglese [c15th Cent] Italy
Ansink, Caroline [1959] Holland
(van) Appledorn, Mary Jeanne [1927] USA
Archer, Violet [1913-2000] Canada
Armer, Elinor [1939] USA
Arrieu, Claude [1903-1990] France
Assandra, Caterina [c1580-1622?] Italy (Lombardy)
Auenbrugger, Marianna von [?-1786] Austria
Aulin, Laura Valborg [1860-1928] Sweden
Auster, Lydia [1912-1993] Kazakhstan
Austin, Elizabeth [1938] USA
B
Bacewicz, Grazyna [1909-1969] Poland
Bach, Maria [1896-1978] Austria
Badarzewska-Baranowska, Tekla [1834-1861] Poland
Badalla, Rosa Giacinta [c1660-c1715] Italy (Milan)
Badian, Maya [1945] Romania
Ballou, Esther WIlliamson [1915-1973] USA
Baptista, Gracia [c16th cent.] Spain
Barnett, Carol [1949] USA
Barraine, Elsa [1910-1999] France
Barthélemon, Cecilia Maria [1770-?] England
Barthélemon, Mary Polly [1749-1799] England
Basacopol, Carmen Petra [1926] Romania
Bauckholt, Carola [1959] Germany
Bauer, Marion [1882-1955] USA
Bauld, Alison [1944] Australia
Bayreuth, Wilhelmine von [1709-1758] Germany
Beach, Amy Marcy Cheney [1867-1944] USA
Beamish, Sally [1956] England
Beath, Betty [1932] Australia
Beatrice de Romans [c13th Cent] France
Beatriz de Dia [1160-1212] France
(le) Beau, Luise Adolpha [1850-1927] Germany [official website in German ]
Beclard d'Harcourt, Marguerite [1884-1964] France
Beecroft, Norma [1934] Canada
Bell, Elizabeth [1928] USA
Bembo, Antonia [1643-c1715] Italy (Venice)
Benedetti, Josefina [1953] Venezuela
Bergh, Gertrude van den [1793-1840] Netherlands
Bertin, Louise Angelique [1805-1877] France
(von) Bingen, Hildegard [1098-1179]
Bigot, Marie [1786-1820] France
Birgitta of Sweden [c1303-c1373]
Bitgood, Roberta [1908] USA
Blanche of Castile [c1188-1252] Spain
Bliss, Marilyn [1954] USA
Bodorova, Sylvie [1954] Czech Republic
Boleyn, Anne [1507-1536] England
Bon di Venezia, Anna [c1738-c1767] Italy (Venice) [brief bio in French ]
Bond, Victoria [1945] USA
Bonis, Melanie [1858-1937] France
Borroff, Edith [1925] USA
Bosanquet, Caroline [1940] England
Bosmans, Henriëtte Hilda [1895-1952] The Netherlands
Bouchard, Linda [1957] Canada
Boulanger, Lili [1893-1918] France
Boulanger, Nadia [1887-1979] France
Boyd, Anne [1946] Australia
Brake, May Hannah [1885-1956] England
Brandman, Margaret [1951] Australia
Brenet, Thérèse [1935] France
Bright, Dora Estella [1863-1951] United Kingdom Britton, Dorothy Guyver [1922] USA
Brockman, Jane [1949] USA
Brouwer, Margaret [1940] USA
Brusa, Elisabetta [1954] Italy
Bruzdowicz, Joanna [1943] Poland
Buchanan, Dorothy [1945] New Zealand
Buechner, Margaret [1922-1998] Germany
C
Caccini, Francesca [1587-c1645] Italy (Florence)
Canal, Marguerite [1890-1978] France
Capdeville, Constança [1937-1992] Portugal
Capio, Iseut de [c1140-?] France
Capuis, Matilde [1913] Italy
Carignan, Nicole [1952] Canada
Carr-Boyd, Ann [1938] Australia
Carreño, Teresa [1853-1917] Venezuela
Cartier, Marguerite (Rhené Jaque) [1918] Canada
Carwithen, Doreen [1922-2003] England
Case, Anna [1889-1938] USA
Castelloza, Dame [c13th Cent] France
Castelnau, Almucs de [c1140] France
Casulana, Maddalena [c1540-c1590] Italy
Cernovska, Zoja [1960] Czech Republic
Cervenkova, Milada [1947] Czech Republic
Chaminade, Cecile [1857-1944] France
Chandler, Mary [1911-1996] England
Charrière, Caroline [1960] Switzerland [bio in French ]
Chen Yi [1953] China
Chizy, Edith Canat de [1950] France [bio in French ]
Chretien, Hedwige [1859-1944] France
Ciobanu, Maia [1952] Romania
Clarke, Rebecca [1886-1979] England
Clingan, Judith [1945] Australia
Coates, Gloria [1938] USA
Cory, Eleanor [1943] USA
Coulthard, Jean [1908-2000] Canada
Cox, Cindy [1961] USA
Cozzolani, Chiara Margarita [1602-c1678] Italy (Milan)
Cramer, Anna [1873-1968] Holland
Crawford-Seeger, Ruth [1901-1953] USA
(de la) Cruz, Juana Inez [1648-1695] Mexico
D
Dalberg, Nancy [1881-1949] Denmark
Daniels, Mabel [1878-1971] USA
Dare, Margaret Marie [1902-1976] Scotland
Davidson, Tina [195?] Sweden
De Castro-Robinson, Eve [1956] New Zealand
De Dregnau de Lille, Maroie [13th Cent.] France
De Kenessey, Stefania [1961] Hungary
De Pastel, Karen [1949] USA [webpage in German ]
Del Riego, Theresa [1876-1968] England
Demar, Theresia [1801-18?] France
Demessieux, Jeanne [1921-1968] France
Dering, Lady Mary (Mary Harvey) [1629-1704] England
Desportes, Yvonne [1907-1993] France
Bloomer Deussen, Nancy [1931] USA
Dickenson-Auner, Mary [1880-1965] Ireland
Diemer, Emma Lou [1927] USA
Dinescu, Violeta [1953] Romania
Dolgorouky, Princess Varvara N. [1769-1849] Russia
Donceanu, Felicia [1931] Romania
Drattell, Deborah [1956] USA
Dring, Madeleine [1923-1977] England
Dussek-Corri, Sophia [1775-1847?] Scotland
(Mlle ) Duval, Louise [1718?-1775?] France
Dvorakova, Marketa [1977] Czech Republic
Dychko, Lesia [20th cent.] Ukraine
E
Eckhardt-Gramatté, Sophie-Carmen [1899-1974] Russia
Eiriksdottir, Karolina [1951] Iceland
Ekizian, Michelle [1956] USA
Elizabeth I, Queen of England [1533-1603]
Ellicott, Rosalind [1857-1924] England
Epstein, Marti [1959] USA
Erding-Swiridoff, Susanne [1955] Germany
Escot, Pozzi [1933] USA
F
Fabianska, Teresa [1760-18?] Poland
Fábregas, Elisénda [1955] Spain
Faisst, Clara [1872-1948] Germany
Farrenc, Louise [1804-1875] France
Faxon, Nancy [1914-2005] USA
Ferrari, Carlotta [1831-1907] Italy
Fine, Vivian [1913-2000] USA
Firsova, Elena [1950] Russia
Fisher, Helen [20th cent.] New Zealand
Fleischer, Tsippi [1946] Israel
Folio, Cynthia [1954] USA
Fontyn, Jacqueline [1930] Belgium
Fowler, Jennifer [1939] Australia
Freed, Dorothy [1919-2000] New Zealand
Freer, Eleanor Everest [1864-1942] USA
French, Tania Gabrielle [1963] USA
Frolyak, Bohdana [20th cent.] Ukraine
Fromm-Michaels, Ilse [1888-1986] Germany
Fuchs, Lillian [20th cent.] USA
G
Gabriel, Mary Ann Virginia [1825-1877] England
Galbraith, Nancy [1951] USA
Galinne, Rachel [1949] Sweden
(de) Gambarini, Elisabetta [1731-1765] England
Gardiner, Mary [1932] Canada
Garrop, Stacy [20th cent.] USA
Garsenda, Countess of Provence [1191-1215]
Garuta, Lucija [1902-1977] Latvia
Garwood, Margaret [1927] USA
Gentile, Ada [1947] Italy [official website in Italian ]
Ghandar, Ann [1943] Australia
Gideon, Miriam [1906-1996] USA
Gifford, Helen [1935] Australia
Gines, Teodora [c16th Cent] Cuba
Gipps, Ruth [1921-1999] England
Giraud, Suzanne [1958] France
Glanville-Hicks, Peggy [1912-1990] Australia
Golovina, (Countess) Varvara Nikolaievna [1766-1821] Russia
Gomelskaya, Julia [1964] Ukraine
Goolkasian Rahbee, Dianne [1938] USA
Gorelova, Galina [1951] Belarussia
Gotkovsky, Ida [1933] France
Gould, Janetta [1926] Scotland
Gourzi, Konstantia [1962] Greece
Grandval, Marie [1830-1907] France
Granillo, María [1962] Mexico
Grenfell, Maria [1969] Malaysia
Grimstad, Birgitte [1935] Norway
Grøndahl, Agathe Backer [1847-1907] Norway
Gubaidulina, Sofia Asgatovna [1931] USSR (Russia)
Gubitosi, Emilia [1887-1972] Italy
Gyring, Elizabeth [1906-1970] Austria
H
Hall, Juliana [1958] USA
Hall, Pauline [1890-1969] Norway
Hamer, Janice [1947] USA
Harbach, Barbara [1946] USA
Hardin, Elisabeth [c1770-?] England
Harrison, Annie Fortescue [1851-1944] USA
Harrison, Pamela [1915-1990] England
Harrison, Sadie [1965] Australia
Harrison, Susie Frances (Riley) [1859-1935] Canada
Harvey, Mary (Lady Dering) [1629-1704] England
Havrylets, Hanna [20th cent.] Ukraine
Heller, Barbara [1936] Germany
Henderson, Ruth Watson [1932] Canada
Hensel, Fanny [1805-1847] Germany
Herrad of Landsberg [1167-1195]
Hewitt-Jones, Anita [1926] England
Higdon, Jennifer [1962] USA
Hildegard von Bingen [1098-1179]
Hill-Solomon, Mirrie [1892-1986] Australia
Hoijer, Anna Ovena [17th cent.] The Netherlands
Holland, Dulcie [1913-2000] Australia
Holmes, Augusta [1847-1903] France [bio in French ]
Holmsen, Borghild [1865-1938] Norway
Holst, Imogen [1907-1984] England
Hölszky, Adriana [1953] Romania
Holt, Nora Douglas [1885-1974] USA
Holt, Patricia Blomfield [1910] Canada
Hoover, Katherine [1937] USA
Horrocks, Amy Elsie [1867-1920] England
Hovda, Eleanor [1940] USA
Howe, Mary [1882-1964] USA
Howell, Dorothy [1898-1982] England
Hubicki, Margaret [1915] England
Hui, Melissa [1966] Hong Kong
Hurh, Bang-Ja [1943] Korea
Hwang, Serra Miyeun [20th cent.] Korea
Hyde, Miriam [1913-2005] Australia
I
Isabella Leonarda [1620-1704] Italy
Ivanova, Advotia [18th Cent] Russia
J
Jacquet de la Guerre, Elisabeth Claude [1665-1729] France
Jadin, Hyacinthe [1769-1802] France
Jaëll-Trautmann, Marie [1846-1925] France
Janarcekova, Viera [1941] Slovakia
Janotha, Natalia [1856-1932] Poland
Jaque, Rhene (b. Marguerite Cartier) [1918-2006] Canada
Jazwinski, Barbara [1950] Poland
Jolas, Betsy [1926] France
K
Kabat, Julie [1947] USA
Kaminsky, Laura [1956] USA
Kapralova, Vitezslava [1915-1940] Czechoslovakia
Karamessini, Ekaterini [1967] USA
Kassia [c810-c867] Greece
Kats-Chernin, Elena [1957] Uzbekistan
Kavanagh, Dale [20th cent.] Canada
Kavina, Lydia [1967] Russia
Keal, Minna [1909-1999] England
(de) Kenessey, Stefania [1961] Hungary
Ker, Dorothy [1965] New Zealand
Kerr, Louise Lincoln [1892-1977] USA
Kessler-Schumiatcher, Minuetta [1914] Russia
Kiliç, Lenka [1971] Czech Republic
King, Betty Jackson [1928-1994] USA
Kinkel, Johanna [1810-1858] Germany
Kladas, daughter of Ioannes [14th cent.] Greece
Klotzman, Dorothy [1937] USA
Kolb, Barbara [1939] USA
Koster, Lou [1889-1973] Luxembourg
Kourakina, (Princess) Natalia Ivanovna [1768?-1831] Russia
Kouvaras, Linda [1960] Australia
Kralik, Mathilde von [1857-1944] Austria
Kukuck, Felicitas [1914-2001] Germany [website in German ]
Kulenty, Hanna [1961] Poland
Kuss, Margarita Ivanovna [1921] USSR
Kuyper, Elisabeth [1877-1953] The Netherlands
Kyrylina, Iryna [1953] Ukraine
L - Z
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