Missy Mazzoli: The Odd One Out

Growing up in a small town where music, especially classical music, was not valued, composer and pianist Missy Mazzoli felt out of place in her love for music. Mazzoli also did not know of many female classical composers she could look up to. One would see these disadvantages as a reason to give up on […]

Composer, Pianist

Wang Jie: A Classical Composing Genius

As a way to discipline her as a child, classical music composer Wang Jie’s parents made her study composition. Little did anyone know that she would grow to love it so much.

Composer, Opera

The Innovative and Unconventional John Cage

John Cage’s goal was to have his audience observe the sounds of their environment, rather than be distracted from the sound of music. Cage saw the beauty in his surroundings. But did anyone else?

Composition, contemporary music, John Cage, Opera, Piano

Florence Price: The Woman Who Paved the Way

How far would you go to accomplish your goals? How many ‘no’s are you willing to hear before you get a ‘yes’? Florence Price was resilient, going as far as creating a pseudonym. Did it work?

Classical Music, Composition, Florence Price, Organ, Piano, Teaching

Louis Armstrong: The Man who Transformed Jazz

With a charming personality and fantastical playing of the cornet and trumpet, it’s no surprise Louis Armstrong took the world of jazz by storm. What did he change?

Cornet, jazz, Louis Armstrong, music, Trumpet

Forbidden Feelings: Clara & Robert Schumann’s Fight for Love

Most people would do anything for love, but would you sue someone’s father? Clara and Robert Schumann did just this. Were they successful?

Clara Schumann, Classical Music, Music Composition, Robert Schumann, Romantic Era

Composition and Combat: How Ego (almost) Killed a Man

Most composers aren’t ones to get into a sword fight, but George Frideric Handel was one of few to buck that trend. Did he manage to survive?

Classical Music, Composer, duel, Frideric, George, german, germany, hallelujah, Handel, musician, Sword

Pachelbel, the wedding artist

The story of a brilliant mind who was a jack of all trades and a master of many. A playwright and a songwriter who was never formally educated in either art.

Classical Music, Johann Pachelbel, Organ, Sacral Music

A prodigy of classical music

The story of a brilliant mind who was a jack of all trades and a master of many. A playwright and a songwriter who was never formally educated in either art.

Classical Music, Georg Philipp Telemann, Organ, Sacral Music

Organ Boss: Johann Sebastian Bach

One of the most influential figures in classical music, the life of a man who mastered the Organ instrument.

Bach, Classical Music, Organ