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List of 20th-century American women composers

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This is a list of 20th-century American women composers ordered alphabetically by surname.

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A

  • Mildred Adair (1895–1943){{Cite web|title=Adair, Mildred|url=https://composers-classical-music.com/a/AdairMildred.htm|access-date=July 26, 2024|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Esther Allan (1914–1985){{Cite web|title=Allan, Esther|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/a/AllanEsther.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Beth Anderson (born 1950){{Cite web|title=Anderson, Beth|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/a/AndersonBeth.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Elinor Armer (born 1939){{Cite web|title=Armer, Elinor|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/a/ArmerElinor.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Clarice Assad (born 1978){{Cite web|title=Assad, Clarice|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/a/AssadClarice.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Lera Auerbach (born 1973){{Cite web|title=Auerbach, Lera|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/a/AuerbachLera.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • May Aufderheide (1888–1972){{Cite web|title=Aufderheide, May|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/a/AufderheideMay.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

B

  • Elaine Barkin (born 1932){{Cite web|title=Barkin, Elaine|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BarkinElaine.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Floy Little Bartlett (1883–1955){{Cite web|title=Bartlett, Floy Little|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BartlettFloyLittle.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Amy Beach (1867–1944){{Cite web|title=Beach, Amy|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BeachAmyMarcyCheney.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Eve Beglarian (born 1958){{Cite web|title=Beglarian, Eve|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BeglarianEve.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Lauren Bernofsky (born 1967){{Cite web|title=Bernofsky, Lauren|url=https://composers-classical-music.com/b/BernofskyLauren.htm|access-date=2025-01-28|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Carla Bley (born 1938){{Cite web|title=Bley, Carla|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BleyCarla.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Margaret Bonds (1913–1972){{Cite web|title=Bonds, Margaret|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BondsMargaret.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Radie Britain (1899–1994){{Cite web|title=Britain, Radie|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/britain-radie|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Texas State Historical Association: Handbook of Texas}}
  • Rosemary Brown (1916–2001){{Cite news|last=Martin|first=Douglas|date=2001-12-02|title=Rosemary Brown, a Friend of Dead Composers, Dies at 85|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/02/nyregion/rosemary-brown-a-friend-of-dead-composers-dies-at-85.html|access-date=2021-09-05|issn=0362-4331}}
  • Canary Lee Burton (born 1942){{Cite web|last=|date=2011-05-02|title=Canary Burton|url=https://musicalics.com/en/composer/Canary-Burton|access-date=2021-09-05|website=musicalics.com|language=en}}

C

  • Wendy Carlos (born 1939)
  • Gloria Coates (1938–2023){{Cite web|title=Coates, Gloria|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/c/CoatesGloria.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Nellie Weldon Cocroft (1885–1986){{Cite web|title=Nellie Estelle Weldon Cocroft|url=http://ragpiano.com/comps/nwcocroft.shtml|access-date=2021-09-05|website=RagPiano.com|language=en}}
  • Valerie Coleman
  • Sylvia Constantinidis (born 1962){{Cite web|title=Constantinidis, Sylvia, 1962–|url=https://viaf.org/viaf/305410782/|access-date=2021-09-05|website=viaf.org}}

D

  • Katherine Kennicott Davis (1892–1980){{Cite web|title=Katherine K. Davis Papers, 1908–1981|url=https://concordlibrary.org/special-collections/fin_aids/davis|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Concord Free Public Library}}
  • Emma Lou Diemer (1927–2024){{Cite web|title=Emma Lou Diemer, composer... November 24 in History|url=https://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1927/november_24_1927_87106.html|access-date=2021-09-05|website=BrainyHistory|language=en}}

E

  • Marti Epstein (born 1959){{Cite web|title=Marti Epstein|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2353259-Marti-Epstein|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Discogs|language=en}}
  • Reena Esmail (born 1983){{Cite web|title=Composers: Reena Esmail|url=https://www.classicsforkids.com/composers/composer_profile.php?id=142|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Classics For Kids}}

F

  • Sylvia Fine (1913–1991){{Cite web|title=Sylvia Fine|url=https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/fine-sylvia|access-date=2021-09-05|website=Jewish Women's Archive|language=en}}
  • Vivian Fine (1913–2000){{cite web|last=Raymond|first=Jennifer|date=2000-04-09|title=Vivian Fine Obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/apr/10/guardianobituaries|access-date=2021-09-05|work=The Guardian}}

G

  • Miriam Gideon (1906–1996){{Cite web|title=Miriam Gideon|url=https://composers.com/composers/miriam-gideon|access-date=2021-09-05|website=American Composers Alliance|date=January 1957 |language=en}}
  • Annie Gosfield (born 1960){{Cite web|title=Gosfield, Annie|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/g/GosfieldAnnie.htm|access-date=2021-09-05|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

H

  • Juliana Hall (born 1958){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2013-03-08|title=Juliana Hall|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/98836|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Barbara Harbach (born 1946){{Cite web|title=Barbara Harbach (b.1946): The Music of, Vol. 4 – The Soul of Ra and Transformations for String Orchestra, Echoes from Tomorrow for Chamber Ensemble, Freeing the Caged Bird and Lilia Polka for Wind Quintet|url=http://www.recordsinternational.com/cd.php?cd=01L084|access-date=2021-09-06|website=Records International}}
  • Melissa Hui (born 1966){{Cite web|title=Hui, Melissa|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/h/HuiMelissa.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Jennifer Higdon (born 1962){{Cite web|title=Higdon, Jennifer|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/h/HigdonJennifer.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

K

  • Laura Karpman (born 1959){{Cite web|last=|date=2015-04-23|title=Laura Karpman|url=https://musicalics.com/en/composer/Laura-Karpman|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Barbara Kolb (born 1939)

L

  • Joan La Barbara (born 1947){{Cite web|title=Barbara, Joan La|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BarbaraJoanLa.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Anne La Berge (born 1955){{Cite web|title=Berge, Anne La|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/b/BergeAnneLa.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Vanessa Lann (born 1968){{Cite web|title=Lann, Vanessa|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/l/LannVanessa.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Libby Larsen (born 1950){{Cite web|title=Larsen, Libby|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/l/LarsenLibby.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Tania León (born 1943){{Cite web|title=Leon, Tania|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/l/LeonTania.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

M

  • Linda Martinez (1975–2005)[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-26-me-martinez26-story.html "Linda Martinez, 29; Gifted Pianist and Promising Composer"] Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2005. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  • Josephine McGill (1877–1919){{cite book|title=Grove Music Online|author=Barbara L. Tischler|chapter=McGill, Josephine|chapter-url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-1002292295|date=2013-11-26|doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2292295|isbn=978-1-56159-263-0|accessdate=2021-09-23}}
  • Cindy McTee (born 1953){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2013-03-25|title=Cindy McTee|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/79190|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Missy Mazzoli (born 1980){{Cite web|title=Mazzoli, Melissa|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/m/MazzoliMelissa.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Meredith Monk (born 1942){{Cite web|title=Monk, Meredith|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/m/MonkMeredith.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

O

  • Pauline Oliveros (1932–2016){{Cite web|title=Oliveros, Pauline|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/o/OliverosPauline.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}Wagner, Laura, "[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/26/503424082/pauline-oliveros-pioneer-of-deep-listening-dies-at-84 Pauline Oliveros, Pioneer Of 'Deep Listening,' Dies At 84]". Cited an Instagram post by flautist Claire Chase and confirmation by friends on [https://www.facebook.com/pauline.oliveros Oliveros' Facebook page]. Retrieved 2016-11-26.

P

  • Judith Palmer
  • Florence Price (1887–1953){{Cite web|title=Price, Florence|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/p/PriceFlorence.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

R

  • Nancy Raabe (born 1954){{Cite web |last= Behling |first=Andrea Behling |title=From critic to composer |url=https://www.hngnews.com/milton_courier/news/local/from-critic-to-composer/article_4cf28b30-5142-11e3-92bf-001a4bcf6878.html |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Hometown News LP |date=19 November 2013 |language=en}}
  • Shulamit Ran (born 1947){{Cite web|title=Ran, Shulamit|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/r/RanShulamit.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

S

  • Laura Schwendinger (born 1962){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2004-05-23|title=Laura Elise Schwendinger|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/78518|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Amy Scurria (born 1973){{Cite web|last=|date=2008-07-16|title=Amy Scurria|url=https://musicalics.com/en/composer/Amy-Scurria|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=en}}
  • Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901–1953){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2003-07-15|title=Ruth Crawford|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/97834|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Alex Shapiro (born 1962){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2005-01-26|title=Alex Shapiro|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/101847|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Judith Shatin (born 1949){{Cite web|title=Shatin, Judith|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/s/ShatinAllenJudith.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Caroline Shaw (born 1982){{Cite web|title=Partita for 8 Voices, by Caroline Shaw (New Amsterdam Records)|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/caroline-shaw|access-date=2025-01-28|website=The Pulitzer Prizes}}
  • Faye-Ellen Silverman (born 1947){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2013-03-25|title=Faye-Ellen Silverman|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/86016|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Netty Simons (1913–1994){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2013-03-25|title=Netty Simons|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/86450|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Linda Catlin Smith (born 1957){{Cite web|title=Smith, Linda Catlin|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/s/SmithLindaCatlin.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Cristina Spinei (born 1984){{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Cristina Spinei: Music for Dance|url=https://toccataclassics.com/product/cristina-spinei-music-for-dance/|access-date=2021-09-06|website=Toccata Classics|language=en-GB}}
  • Pauline Anna Strom (1946–2020){{Cite web|last=|date=2020-12-21|title=Pauline Anna Strom|url=https://musicalics.com/en/composer/Pauline-Anna-Strom|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}

T

  • Augusta Read Thomas (born 1964){{Cite web|title=Thomas, Augusta Read|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/t/ThomasAugustaRead.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Karen P. Thomas (born 1957){{Cite web|title=Thomas, Karen P|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/t/ThomasKarenP.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}
  • Joan Tower (born 1938){{Cite web|title=Tower, Joan|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/t/TowerJoan.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

V

  • Lois V. Vierk (born 1951){{Cite web|title=Vierk, Lois V|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/v/VierkLoisV.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

W

  • Melinda Wagner (born 1957){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2013-03-25|title=Melinda Wagner|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/86183|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Shirley Walker (1945-2006)
  • Gwyneth Van Anden Walker (born 1947){{Cite web|last=Giraudet|first=Jean-Paul|date=2002-03-15|title=Gwyneth V. Walker|url=https://musicalics.com/en/node/97408|access-date=2021-09-06|website=musicalics.com|language=fr}}
  • Wang Jie (born 1980)
  • Edwina Florence Wills (1915–2002)
  • Diane Wittry
  • Julia Wolfe (born 1958){{Cite web|title=Wolfe, Julia|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/w/WolfeJulia.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

Z

  • Pamela Z (born 1956){{Cite web|title=Pamela Z|url=https://www.livingmusicdatabase.com/composers/pamela_z|access-date=2021-09-06|website=Living Music Database|language=en}}
  • Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (born 1939){{Cite web|title=Zwilich, Ellen Taaffe|url=http://composers-classical-music.com/z/ZwilichEllenTaaffe.htm|access-date=2021-09-06|website=composers-classical-music.com}}

References

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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:20th-Century American Women Composers, List of}}

American Women Composers

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Category:Lists of American musicians

Composers

Category:Lists of composers by nationality

Category:Lists of women in music

composers