Meet the Composer

Meet the Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) lived and composed in Germany. Get ready to learn about J.S. Bach and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Ludwig van Beethoven

Meet the Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) lived and composed in Austria. Get ready to learn about Ludwig van Beethoven and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Raven Chacon

Raven Chacon (b. 1977) was born in the Navajo Nation, and lives and composes in upstate New York. Get ready to learn about Raven Chacon and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Carlos Chávez

Carlos Chávez (1899-1978) lived and composed in Mexico. Get ready to learn about Carlos Chávez and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Anna Clyne

Anna Clyne (b. 1980) was born in England, and lives and composes in New York City. Get ready to learn about Anna Clyne and listen to some of her music!

Meet the Composer: Tan Dun

Tan Dun (b. 1957) was born in China, and lives and composes in New York City. Get ready to learn about Tan Dun and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Antonín Dvořák

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) lived and composed in what is now the Czech Republic. Get ready to learn about Antonín Dvořák and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Gabriela Lena Frank

Gabriela Lena Frank (b. 1972) lives and composes in northern California. Get ready to learn about Gabriela Lena Frank and listen to some of her music.

Meet the Composer: Sofia Gubaidulina

Sofia Gubaidulina (1931-2025) was born in what is now Russia, and lived and composed in Germany. Get ready to learn about Sofia Gubaidulina and listen to some of her music!

Meet the Composer: Adolphus Hailstork

Adolphus Hailstork (b. 1941) was born in upstate New York, and lives and composes in Virginia. Get ready to learn about Adolphus Hailstork and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Jennifer Higdon

Meet the Composer: Jennifer Higdon

Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) lives and composes in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Get ready to learn about Jennifer Higdon and listen to some of her music.

Meet the Composer: Hildegard von Bingen

Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179) lived and composed in what is now Germany. Get ready to learn about Hildegard von Bingen and listen to some of her music.

Meet the Composer: Zoltán Kodály

Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) lived and composed in Hungary. The story of Zoltán Kodály provides a good example of history's influence on music.

Meet the Composer: Jean-Baptiste Lully

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) lived and composed in France. Get ready to learn about Jean-Baptiste Lully and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Missy Mazzoli

Meet the Composer: Missy Mazzoli

Missy Mazzoli (b. 1980) lives and composes in Brooklyn, New York. Get ready to learn about Missy Mazzoli and listen to some of her music.

Meet the Composer: Fanny Mendelssohn

Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847) lived and composed in Germany. Get ready to learn about Fanny Mendelssohn and listen to some of her music.

Meet the Composer: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda (b. 1980) lives and composes in New York City. Get ready to learn about Lin-Manuel Miranda and listen to some of his music!

Meet the Composer: Claudio Monteverdi

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) lived and composed in Italy. Get ready to learn about Claudio Monteverdi and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Wolfgang Mozart

Wolfgang Mozart (1756-1791) lived and composed in Austria. Get ready to learn about Wolfgang Mozart and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Gabriela Ortiz

Meet the Composer: Gabriela Ortiz

Gabriela Ortiz (b. 1964) lives and composes in Mexico City. Get ready to learn about Gabriela Ortiz and listen to some of her music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Astor Piazzolla

Meet the Composer: Astor Piazzolla

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) lived and composed in Argentina. Get ready to learn about Astor Piazzolla and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Florence Price

Florence Price (1887-1953) was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and lived and composed in Chicago, Illinois. Get ready to learn about Florence Price and listen to some of her music.

CN thumbnail Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Meet the Composer: Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799) lived and composed in France. Get ready to learn about Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Franz Schubert

Meet the Composer: Franz Schubert

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) lived and composed in Austria. Get ready to learn about Franz Schubert and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Dmitri Shostakovich

Meet the Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) lived and composed in Russia. Get ready to learn about Dmitri Shostakovich and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Gabriella Smith

Meet the Composer: Gabriella Smith

Gabriella Smith (b. 1991) lives and composes in Seattle, Washington. Get ready to learn about Gabriella Smith and listen to some of her music.

Meet the Composer: Tōru Takemitsu

Tōru Takemitsu (1930-1996) lived and composed in Japan. Get ready to learn about Tōru Takemitsu and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Heitor Villa-Lobos

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) lived and composed in Brazil. Get ready to learn about Heitor Villa-Lobos and listen to some of his music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Antonio Vivaldi

Meet the Composer: Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) lived and composed in Italy. Get ready to learn about Antonio Vivaldi and listen to some of his music.

Meet the Composer: Gwyneth Walker

Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947) lives and composes in New England. Get ready to learn about Gwyneth Walker and listen to some of her music.

Thumbnail for Meet the Composer lesson on Chen Yi

Meet the Composer: Chen Yi

Chen Yi (b. 1953) lives and composes in Kansas City, Missouri. Get ready to learn about Chen Yi and listen to some of her music.

YourClassical is a public media organization and your support makes it possible.

This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Learn more