Women Composers
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Throughout history, there have been many women composers who have made significant contribution to the field. The list includes many familiar and great female composers such as Tori Amos, Nadia Boulanger, Emina Jahović, Francesca Caccini, Clara Wieck Schumann.The women composers featured in this list are from United States, United Kingdom, Canada & Australia and many more countries.
Vote for Your Favourite Women Composers
1
Hildegard of Bingen(German Writer, Composer, Philosopher and Mystic Considered to be One of the Best-Known Composers of Sacred Monophony)
Birthdate: 1098 AD
Birthplace: Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Germany
Died: September 17, 1179
Hildegard of Bingen was a German writer, composer, Christian mystic, visionary, philosopher, polymath, and Benedictine abbess of the High Middle Ages. Apart from being the most-recorded composers of sacred monophony in modern history, Hildegard of Bingen is also widely regarded as the founder of scientific natural history.
2
Bjork(Famous as the Lead Singer of Alternative Rock Band 'The Sugarcubes')
Birthdate: November 21, 1965
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Reykjavík, Iceland
Bjork is an Icelandic singer, record producer, songwriter, DJ, and actress. She is best known for her association with the now-defunct yet popular band, The Sugarcubes. The bestselling Icelandic singer-songwriter of all time, Bjork was named in Time magazine's most influential people in the world list in 2015. Over the course of her illustrious career, Bjork has received several awards.
3
Enya
(Irish Singer and Musician Known for Pioneering Modern 'Celtic' and 'New-Age' Music)
Birthdate: May 17, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland
Known for her unique blend of Celtic and folk tunes, Irish singer Enya has been dubbed the Queen of New Age. The Academy Award-nominated singer is also a 4-time Grammy winner and soared to fame with tracks such as Only Time and Orinoco Flow. She is the best-selling Irish solo artist ever.
4
Joan Jett(Founder of the Rock Band 'The Runaways' & Frontwoman of 'Joan Jett & the Blackhearts')
Birthdate: September 22, 1958
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, United States
Joan Jett, also known as The Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, is the frontwoman of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, best known for their rendition of the Arrows song I Love Rock 'n Roll, which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Jett also released the hit Cherry Bomb with the Runaways.
Birthdate: June 1, 1974
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada
Alanis Morisette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter and actress. Renowned for her mezzo-soprano voice, Morisette has been named by Rolling Stone as the Queen of Alt-Rock Angst. A recipient of 13 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, Morisette has released several successful albums, including Jagged Little Pill, which was named in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
Birthdate: March 23, 1953
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois
Ten-time Grammy-winning funk/R&B/disco artist Chaka Khan, or the Queen of Funk, soared to fame as the frontwoman of the band Rufus. Known for her hit track I Feel for You, Khan has sold 70 million records and has ranked 17th on VH1’s 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll list.
Birthdate: August 22, 1963
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Newton
Alternative rock singer Tori Amos is known for her songs that highlight issues such as feminism. Amos was the youngest to win a music scholarship to the Peabody Institute. She performed with the group Y Kant Tori Read before going solo. She is associated with RAINN, a sexual abuse helpline.
8
Petula Clark
(One of the Longest Serving British Singers With a Career Spanning More than Seven Decades)
Birthdate: November 15, 1932
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ewell, Surrey, England
Petula Clark is an English singer, composer, and actress. She achieved immense popularity in the USA, for which she is often referred to as the First Lady of the British Invasion. Over the years, Petula Clark has sold over 68 million records worldwide. Some of her best known songs include Downtown, I Couldn't Live Without Your Love, and My Love.
9
Michel'le
(Singer-Songwriter)
Birthdate: December 5, 1970
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Compton, United States
10
PJ Harvey
(Singer-songwriter, Composer, Artist, Singer, Guitarist)
Birthdate: October 9, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bridport
Tinged with themes of female sexuality, the lyrics of PJ Harvey have redefined the place women occupy in rock music. While she was initially part of a musical trio named after herself, she later charted her own path as a solo musician. She is only artist to have earned the Mercury Prize twice.
Birthdate: May 26, 1920
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Jamestown, North Dakota, United States
Died: January 21, 2002
Birthdate: March 11, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Yavne'el, Israel
Keren Peles is an Israeli pianist, singer-songwriter, and poet. Over the course of her songwriting career, Peles has contributed immensely to the success of other popular singers like Shiri Maimon and Miri Mesika by writing the lyrics of some of their hit songs. She has also found success as a singer as many of her albums have been certified gold.
13
Amanda Palmer
(Singer, Street artist, Composer, Pianist, Musician, Playwright, Blogger, Songwriter)
Birthdate: April 30, 1976
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City
14
Diane Warren
(First songwriter in Billboard magazine to have seven hit)
Birthdate: September 7, 1956
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Van Nuys, California, United States
15
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
(Actress)
Birthdate: April 26, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England, UK
16
Buffy Sainte-Marie
(Actor, Singer-songwriter, Visual artist, Record producer, Composer)
Birthdate: February 20, 1941
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Piapot, Canada
Known for her music that showcases the issues of Native Americans, Canadian-American singer Buffy Sainte-Marie became the first person from any indigenous community to win an Oscar, with the song Up Where We Belong. She had also been blacklisted by many radio stations earlier due to her activism.
Birthdate: November 14, 1939
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA
18
Susan Tedeschi
(Singer, Guitarist)
Birthdate: November 9, 1970
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
19
Beth Hart
(Singer-songwriter, Musician, Singer, Composer)
Birthdate: January 24, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles
Birthdate: September 13, 1819
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Leipzig
Died: May 20, 1896
Clara Wieck Schumann was a German pianist, teacher, and composer. One of the most famous pianists of the Romantic era, Schumann changed the way concerts were conducted during her time and made a long-lasting impression as a pianist. She also influenced other pianists through her teaching; among her students were famous English pianist, Mathilde Verne.
21
Amelia Warner
(Actress and Composer Best Known for Her Stunning Soundtrack for the 2017 Film ‘Mary Shelley')
Birthdate: June 4, 1982
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Birkenhead, Merseyside, England
Amelia Warner is a British musician and composer. She is best known for her work as a composer in a movie titled Mary Shelley for which she was honored with the Breakthrough Composer of the Year award at the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Awards in 2018. A former actress, Warner has also appeared in films like Æon Flux.
22
Toni Tennille
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: May 8, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama, United States
Birthdate: June 16, 1988
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Orange County, California, US
24
Joan Armatrading
(British singer-songwriter and Grammy and BRIT Award winner who has released popular singles like "Drop the Pilot.")
Birthdate: December 9, 1950
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
25
Ofra Haza
(Singer, Voice actor, Actor, Composer, Journalist, Pianist, Songwriter)
Birthdate: November 19, 1957
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Tel Aviv
Died: February 23, 2000
Ofra Haza was an Israeli actress and singer who achieved great popularity in the Western world where she came to be known as the Madonna of the East. An influential cultural figure in Israel, Ofra Haza played a major role in popularizing the Mizrahi culture. During her illustrious singing career, Haza earned several gold and platinum discs.
26
Linda Perry
(Famous songwriter for stars like Pink, Gwen Stefani, Courtney Love, Kelly Osbourne, and Christina Aguilera)
Birthdate: April 15, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
27
Jackie DeShannon
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: August 21, 1941
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hazel, Kentucky, United States
28
Joan Osborne
(Singer, Singer-songwriter, Composer, Record producer)
Birthdate: July 8, 1962
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Anchorage
29
Kari Jobe
(Singer-songwriter, Singer, Composer)
Birthdate: April 6, 1981
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Waco
30
Hildur Guðnadóttir
(Icelandic Composer and Musician)
Birthdate: September 4, 1982
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Reykjavík, Iceland
Hildur Guðnadóttir is an Icelandic composer and musician. A classically trained cellist, Guðnadóttir has recorded with popular bands like Throbbing Gristle, Pan Sonic, Stórsveit Nix Noltes, and Múm. Hildur Guðnadóttir is best known for her work in films like Joker, for which she received the Academy Award under the Best Original Score category.
31
Melody Gardot
(Singer-songwriter, Jazz musician, Singer, Composer, Pianist)
Birthdate: February 2, 1985
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New Jersey
32
Carole Bayer Sager
(Songwriter, Singer, Composer, Lyricist)
Birthdate: March 8, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York City
33
Ayumi Hamasaki
(Singer, Seiyū, Songwriter, Model, Actor, Singer-songwriter, Composer, Lyricist, Poet, Record producer)
Birthdate: October 2, 1978
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fukuoka
Japanese pop icon Ayumi Hamasaki had started a TV career after moving to Tokyo at 14. She later gained fame with her dance hits and ballads. Also known for her dramatic costumes and videos, The Empress of J-pop has been rendered totally deaf in one ear, owing to a ear infection.
34
Gillian Welch
(Singer-songwriter, Singer, Guitarist, Composer)
Birthdate: October 2, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
35
Paula Cole
(Singer, Musician, Singer-songwriter, Record producer, Composer)
Birthdate: April 5, 1968
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rockport
36
Alka Yagnik
(Actor, Singer, Composer)
Birthdate: March 20, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kolkata
Alka Yagnik is an Indian playback singer. One of the most popular female playback singers in Bollywood, Yagnik has won a record seven Filmfare Awards and two National Film Awards in an illustrious career spanning more than 40 years. Alka Yagnik has also won other prestigious awards, such as Bollywood Movie Awards, Global Indian Film Awards, and Zee Cine Awards.
Birthdate: August 17, 1960
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, United States
Birthdate: December 2, 1986
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Tal Wilkenfeld is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She developed an early interest in music and graduated from Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music. She is the bandleader of her own bands and has also performed in collaboration with artists including Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, Prince, and Mick Jagger. She is a regular practitioner of meditation.
Birthdate: March 24, 1820
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brewster, New York, United States
Died: February 12, 1915
40
Tanita Tikaram
(Singer, Composer, Songwriter)
Birthdate: August 12, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Münster
41
Mía Maestro
(Actor, Singer, Composer, Songwriter)
Birthdate: June 19, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Buenos Aires
Mía Maestro is an Argentine singer, songwriter, and actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Lulu in the stage production of Frank Wedekind’s Pandora's Box, for which she was honored with an ACE Award. Mía Maestro has also played important roles in popular films like The Twilight Saga and Frida.
42
Tarja Turunen
(Finnish Heavy Metal Singer-Songwriter & Co-Founder of the Symphonic Metal Band 'Nightwish')
Birthdate: August 17, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kitee, Finland
Tarja Turunen is a Finnish singer-songwriter and an exponent of heavy metal. She is credited with co-founding the popular symphonic metal band Nightwish, where she peformed as the lead vocalist. The band's symphonic metal style, which was referred to as opera metal, inspired several other bands and performers.
43
Evelyn Glennie
(Composer, Percussionist)
Birthdate: July 19, 1965
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Aberdeen
44
KT Tunstall
(Musician and Singer-Songwriter)
Birthdate: June 23, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Edinburgh
KT Tunstall is a Scottish musician and singer-songwriter. She came into prominence in 2004, when she performed Black Horse and the Cherry Tree in a music TV show called Later... with Jools Holland. KT Tunstall is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the European Border Breakers Award, Ivor Novello Award, Scottish Style Award, and Brit Award.
Birthdate: December 1, 1958
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Birthdate: December 28, 1953
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: San Francisco, USA
47
Ivy Queen
(Puerto Rican Rapper, Actress, Singer, and Songwriter)
Birthdate: March 4, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Añasco, Puerto Rico
48
Bat for Lashes
(British Multi-instrumentalist, Singer, and Songwriter)
Birthdate: October 25, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brighton
Bat for Lashes is a British multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for releasing albums like Fur and Gold, The Haunted Man, and Lost Girls. Bat for Lashes is the recipient of an ASCAP Award, Ivor Novello Awards, and UK Asian Music Award.
Birthdate: August 6, 1965
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Birthdate: November 16, 1981
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Gladstone Central, Australia
Award-winning Australian singer Kate Miller‐Heidke specializes in both contemporary pop and classical music. Apart from releasing multi-platinum hits such as Last Day on Earth, she has also composed the opera Rabbits and performed at various international music festivals. Her album O Vertigo! became the fastest crowdfunded project on Pledge.