composer

John Coltrane

Quick Facts Jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader One of the most influential jazz musicians Served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, played in the base swing band Made some of his first recordings while in the ...

Branford Marsalis

Quick Facts Saxophonist and composer His father, Ellis Marsalis was pianist and jazz teacher, and his mother was a jazz singer. Three brothers are also jazz musicians. He has collaborated with musicians such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, ...

Wynton Marsalis

Quick Facts Trumpeter and composer Director of Jazz at Juilliard since 2014 His father, Ellis Marsalis was pianist and jazz teacher, and his mother was a jazz singer. Three brothers are also jazz musicians. Started studying trumpet at age of ...

Ravi Shankar

Quick Facts World’s most well-known expert of classical Indian music in the late 20th century As a child/teenager, studied music and dance; toured Europe and the U.S. with a dancing group At the age of 18, started to study the ...

Frédéric Chopin

Quick Facts One of the greatest composers of the Romantic Period Born in Poland Studied piano as a child and gave his first public performance at the age of 8 Wrote his first composition at the age of 6 Most ...

Antonio Vivaldi

Quick Facts Born in Venice (Italy) Composed music in the Baroque style Played the violin Was ordained as a priest, but devoted his life to music instead Wrote lots of music, including 46 operas and 500 concertos His music influenced ...

Claude Debussy

Quick Facts One of the most influential French composers Sometimes called the first Impressionist composer (though Debussy did not like that description) His music pushed the boundaries of melody and harmony. He wrote instrument parts (in the orchestra) that had ...

Margaret Bonds

Quick Facts Born in Chicago, Illinois (U.S.) Her mom taught her to play the piano. She wrote her first piece of music at the age of 5. She studied piano and composition at Northwestern University in Illinois. She was one ...

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Quick Facts Born in New York, New York Puerto-Rican descent Learned to play the piano as a child Listened to salsa, show tunes, R & B, and hip-hop Participated in his high school’s theater program In high school, he met ...

Heitor Villa-Lobos

Quick Facts Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Played cello and classical guitar Best-known South American composer of all time Combined Brazilian folk music with classical music At the age of 18, he traveled around Brazil, becoming well-acquainted with Afro-Brazilian ...
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