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Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) -

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.

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Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) -

Hildegard of Bingen's most popular works include 'Ordo Virtutum,' ‘Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum,’ and ‘A Feather on the Breath of God.’

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Francesca Caccini (1587-1640) -

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.

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Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677) -

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.’

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Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704) -

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.

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Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729) -

The French composer wrote numerous pieces for harpsichord, as well as violin sonatas. La Guerre is also known for writing secular 'Cantates françoises.'

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Anna Amalia of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1739-1807) -

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.'

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Marianna Martines (1744 –1812) -

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.'

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Louise Farrenc (1804-1875) -

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.

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Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847) -

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).

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Clara Schumann (1819-1896) -

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.

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Teresa Carreño (1853-1917) -

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.

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Cécile Chaminade (1857-1944) -

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.

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Adele aus der Ohe (1861-1937) -

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.

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Amy Beach (1867-1944) -

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.

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Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) -

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.'

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Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) -

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.'

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Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) -

Germaine Tailleferre was the only woman in the famed group of composers called Les Six.

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Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) -

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!

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Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) -

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.

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Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953) -

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.

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Ruth Gipps (1921-1999) -

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.

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Judith Weir (b.1954) -

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.

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Rachel Portman (b.1960) -

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.'

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Jocelyn Pook (b.1960) -

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).

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Anne Dudley (b.1956) -

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.

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Debbie Wiseman (b.1963) -

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.

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Roxanna Panufnik (b.1968) -

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.

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Phamie Gow (b.1980) -

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)

See also: The greatest female guitarists of all time

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