August 2021

Marie-Juliette Olga "Lili" Boulanger (Aug. 21, 1893 - March 15, 1918) was a French composer, and  the younger sister of the famed composition teacher/composer Nadia Boulanger. Born in Paris, Lili Boulanger was a child prodigy; at the age of two, it was discovered that she had perfect pitch. Her parents, both musicians, encouraged her musical education, and she accompanied her sister Nadia...

Hélène de Nervo de Montgeroult (March 2, 1764 - May 20, 1836) was a French pianist, composer, and professor. Born in to an aristocratic family, she studied piano with Jan Ladislav Dussek. She married the Marquis de Montgeroult, and it was her compositions that saved her during The Terror of the French Revolution. She performed one of her works for...

Augusta Holmès (Dec. 18, 1847 - Jan. 28 1903) was a pianist and composer, born in Paris, and of Irish descent. Despite showing great talent as a child, she wasn't allowed to take piano at the Paris Conservatory. Instead she took private piano lessons with Mademoiselle Peyrnnet, and later on, harmony and counterpoint with Henri Lambert, and composition lessons with Hyacinthe Klosé. Holmès became...

Theodore Akimenko (Feb. 8, 1876 - Jan. 8, 1945) was a Ukranian pianist, professor, and composer.  He is the older brother of the composer Jakob Akimenko.  Continue reading →

Jean Huré (Sept. 17, 1877 - Jan. 27, 1930) was a French organist and composer; much of his musical knowledge was self-taught. After some musical instruction in Angers, Huré was advised by teachers to study at the Paris Conservatory, but he much preferred to go his own way. He made his living in Paris as an organist at several churches...