Nadia Boulanger

Date of Birth: September 16, 1887

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: October 22, 1979

Biography

Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor, and one of the most influential music educators of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, she was the daughter of Ernest Boulanger, a composer and professor at the Paris Conservatoire, and Raïssa Myshetskaya Boulanger, a Russian princess. Nadia displayed exceptional musical talent from an early age, entering the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 10. Although she composed music, she is best known for her work as a teacher. Her students included some of the most prominent composers and musicians of the 20th century, such as Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, and Quincy Jones. Throughout her career, Boulanger was also a successful conductor, becoming the first woman to conduct major orchestras in the United States and Europe. She was a staunch advocate for the music of her sister, Lili Boulanger, who was also a talented composer but tragically died young. Nadia Boulanger’s legacy lives on through her students and her contributions to music education. She remained active in her work until her death in 1979.

5 Interesting Facts about Nadia Boulanger

1. Nadia Boulanger was the first woman to conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

2. She was awarded the Grand Prix de Rome for musical composition in 1908.

3. Boulanger taught at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France, influencing generations of American composers.

4. She was deeply devoted to the music of her sister, Lili Boulanger, and worked tirelessly to promote her work after Lili’s early death.

5. Nadia Boulanger was a lifelong friend and collaborator with Igor Stravinsky, one of the most important composers of the 20th century.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Nadia Boulanger

1. “The essential conditions of everything you do must be choice, love, and passion.”

2. “Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece.”

3. “It is not your job to love what you do, but to do what you do with love.”

4. “Nothing is better than music… it has done more for us than we have the right to hope for.”

5. “To study music, we must learn the rules. To create music, we must break them.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Nadia Boulanger’s highest net worth achieved is not well-documented, as her primary legacy lies in her educational contributions rather than financial wealth.