10 centuries of classical music (North America)
Martinů or Williams? Kreisler or Cage? It is difficult for inquiring minds to tackle such abundant fields as classical music and opera, covering 10 centuries of history: there are thousands of composers. Making a selection of musicians, such as a “top 10” for example, is a difficult and subjective exercise. A musical selection is often the expression of personal preferences or artistic opinions, very interesting but also very different according to critics or musicologists, or simply influenced by the context: will an English composer not be instinctively privileged by an English critic?
For example: in France, Charles Gounod, a 19th century French composer, is more easily mentioned than the Norwegian Edvard Grieg, who is more recognized in the world.
Timeline of classical music composers in North America
Whoever wants to discover classical music or opera does not always have an experienced music lover, an expert or an educator at his or her side to support and guide him or her in these fields. So : Martinů (Czech composer) or Williams (American composer and conductor) ? Rachmaninoff (Russian composer, pianist and conductor (1873–1943)) or Weill (German composer (1900–1950)) ? However, the knowledge available about musicians is enormous. It was processed to select the 10, 25, 50... most popular composers around the world, for those living or having lived en North America, . And this objectively, and for the first time (soclassiq exclusivity).
Composers rendered as a timeline to bring a little perspective:
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ComposersConductorsLyrical singersPerformers 2024
This timeline is interactive to navigate through the ages (from 1400), or eras : medieval music, renaissance, baroque music (Bach...), classical period (Mozart...), romantic music (Beethoven...), XXth (Stravinsky), or across continents (with ).
Top 10 classical musiccomposers in North America
Who are these greatest composers, the most famous in North America? The works of these musician have shaped the history of classical music and lyric art. There are those you probably know, or at least by name and the others.
Here are these 10 classical music composers, renowned artists from around the world:
Curious to know their most emblematic works? Just a click away to discover them.
The selections of musicians (classical music composers) proposed by soclassiq are based exclusively on algorithms. The same applies to their works, the performers, the lyrical singers, les orchestras, the conductors and the venues : opera houses, concert halls or festivals.
What about the others? 25, 50 or more?
Summarizing to 10 musician names such a wide and diverse field may seem extreme or too simplistic for those who know classical music and lyrical art well, for those who can easily name 50 or more classical music composers. Kálmán, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Shore, Copland, Bernstein, Barber...
At this time, soclassiq has listed more than 19000 composers. So here is a selection of some composers, in North America, widely recognized around the world:
Note:
- This selection may include highly reputed artists and musicians who have occasionally devoted themselves to classical music and not exclusively.
- It may also include composers who have been or are concert performers, some more renowned for their careers than for the work they have left behind.
Paul Abraham 10 centuries of classical music
1892-1960 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Mark Adamo 10 centuries of classical music
age 62 (20th century)
Composer
John Luther Adams 10 centuries of classical music
age 71 (20th century)
Composer
John Adams 10 centuries of classical music
age 77 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Samuel Adler 10 centuries of classical music
age 96 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Theodor W. Adorno 10 centuries of classical music
1903-1969 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Emma Albani 10 centuries of classical music
1847-1930 (Romantic)
Lyrical singer & Composer
John Alden Carpenter 10 centuries of classical music
1876-1951 (20th century)
Composer
Leroy Anderson 10 centuries of classical music
1908-1975 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
George Antheil 10 centuries of classical music
1900-1959 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Desi Arnaz 10 centuries of classical music
1917-1986 (20th century)
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Leopold von Auer 10 centuries of classical music
1845-1930 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Emilie Autumn 10 centuries of classical music
age 44 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Milton Babbitt 10 centuries of classical music
1916-2011 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Angelo Badalamenti 10 centuries of classical music
1937-2022 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Samuel Barber 10 centuries of classical music
1910-1981 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
John Barry 10 centuries of classical music
1933-2011 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Béla Bartók 10 centuries of classical music
1881-1945 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Amy Beach 10 centuries of classical music
1867-1944 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Joshua Bell 10 centuries of classical music
age 56 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Cathy Berberian 10 centuries of classical music
1925-1983 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Elmer Bernstein 10 centuries of classical music
1922-2004 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Leonard Bernstein 10 centuries of classical music
1918-1990 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Ernest Bloch 10 centuries of classical music
1880-1959 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
William Bolcom 10 centuries of classical music
age 85 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Victor Borge 10 centuries of classical music
1909-2000 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Paul Bowles 10 centuries of classical music
1910-1999 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Glenn Branca 10 centuries of classical music
1948-2018 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Bruce Broughton 10 centuries of classical music
age 79 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Leo Brouwer 10 centuries of classical music
1939-2003 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Ole Bull 10 centuries of classical music
1810-1880 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Adolf Busch 10 centuries of classical music
1891-1952 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Cage 10 centuries of classical music
1912-1992 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Hoagy Carmichael 10 centuries of classical music
1899-1981 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Elliott Carter 10 centuries of classical music
1908-2012 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco 10 centuries of classical music
1895-1968 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
George Whitefield Chadwick 10 centuries of classical music
1854-1931 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Carlos Chávez 10 centuries of classical music
1899-1978 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Jacob Clemens n Clemens 10 centuries of classical music
1510-1555 (Renaissance)
Composer
Gloria Coates 10 centuries of classical music
1933-2023 (20th century)
Composer
Aaron Copland 10 centuries of classical music
1900-1990 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Anton Coppola 10 centuries of classical music
1917-2020 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Carmine Coppola 10 centuries of classical music
1910-1991 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
John Corigliano 10 centuries of classical music
age 86 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Henry Cowell 10 centuries of classical music
1897-1965 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Ruth Crawford Seeger 10 centuries of classical music
1901-1953 (20th century)
Composer
George Crumb 10 centuries of classical music
1929-2022 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Walter Damrosch 10 centuries of classical music
1862-1950 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Lorenzo da Da Ponte 10 centuries of classical music
1749-1838 (Classical)
Composer
Bella Davidovich 10 centuries of classical music
age 95 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Carl Davis 10 centuries of classical music
1936-2023 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Don Davis 10 centuries of classical music
age 67 (20th century)
Composer
Norman Dello Joio 10 centuries of classical music
1913-2008 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
David Diamond 10 centuries of classical music
1915-2005 (20th century)
Composer
Antal Doráti 10 centuries of classical music
1906-1988 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Vernon Duke 10 centuries of classical music
1903-1969 (20th century)
Composer
Hanns Eisler 10 centuries of classical music
1898-1962 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Danny Elfman 10 centuries of classical music
age 70 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Morton Feldman 10 centuries of classical music
1926-1987 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Arthur Fiedler 10 centuries of classical music
1894-1979 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Lukas Foss 10 centuries of classical music
1922-2009 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Stephen Foster 10 centuries of classical music
1826-1864 (Romantic)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
David Foster 10 centuries of classical music
age 74 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Florence Foster Jenkins 10 centuries of classical music
1868-1944 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Ivan Galamian 10 centuries of classical music
1903-1981 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Diamanda Galás 10 centuries of classical music
age 68 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
George Gershwin 10 centuries of classical music
1898-1937 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Michael Giacchino 10 centuries of classical music
age 56 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Philip Glass 10 centuries of classical music
age 87 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Leopold Godowsky 10 centuries of classical music
1870-1938 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Elliot Goldenthal 10 centuries of classical music
age 69 (20th century)
Composer
Jerry Goldsmith 10 centuries of classical music
1929-2004 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Morton Gould 10 centuries of classical music
1913-1996 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Glenn Gould 10 centuries of classical music
1932-1982 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Percy Grainger 10 centuries of classical music
1882-1961 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
William Grant Still 10 centuries of classical music
1895-1978 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Alexander Gretchaninov 10 centuries of classical music
1864-1956 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Marc-André Hamelin 10 centuries of classical music
age 62 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Marvin Hamlisch 10 centuries of classical music
1944-2012 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
W. C. Handy 10 centuries of classical music
1873-1958 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Howard Hanson 10 centuries of classical music
1896-1981 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Roy Harris 10 centuries of classical music
1898-1979 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Victor Herbert 10 centuries of classical music
1859-1924 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Bernard Herrmann 10 centuries of classical music
1911-1975 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Jennifer Higdon 10 centuries of classical music
age 61 (20th century)
Composer
Paul Hindemith 10 centuries of classical music
1895-1963 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Josef Hofmann 10 centuries of classical music
1876-1957 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
James Horner 10 centuries of classical music
1953-2015 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Vladimir Horowitz 10 centuries of classical music
1903-1989 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Alan Hovhaness 10 centuries of classical music
1911-2000 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
James Newton Howard 10 centuries of classical music
age 72 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Karel Husa 10 centuries of classical music
1921-2016 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Sebastián de Iradier 10 centuries of classical music
1809-1865 (Romantic)
Composer
Eugene Istomin 10 centuries of classical music
1925-2003 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Charles Ives 10 centuries of classical music
1874-1954 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Byron Janis 10 centuries of classical music
age 95 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Kristjan Järvi 10 centuries of classical music
age 51 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Scott Joplin 10 centuries of classical music
1868-1917 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Emmerich Kálmán 10 centuries of classical music
1882-1953 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Ramin Karimloo 10 centuries of classical music
age 45 (20th century)
Lyrical singer & Composer
Jerome Kern 10 centuries of classical music
1885-1945 (20th century)
Composer
Henry Kimball Hadley 10 centuries of classical music
1871-1937 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Gershon Kingsley 10 centuries of classical music
1922-2019 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Erich Wolfgang Korngold 10 centuries of classical music
1897-1957 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Serge Koussevitzky 10 centuries of classical music
1874-1951 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Fritz Kreisler 10 centuries of classical music
1875-1962 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Ernst Krenek 10 centuries of classical music
1900-1991 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Giorgi Latsabidze 10 centuries of classical music
age 45 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Morten Lauridsen 10 centuries of classical music
age 81 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Ernesto Lecuona 10 centuries of classical music
1896-1963 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Michel Legrand 10 centuries of classical music
1932-2019 (20th century)
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Oscar Levant 10 centuries of classical music
1906-1972 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Frederick Loewe 10 centuries of classical music
1901-1988 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Arkady Luxemburg 10 centuries of classical music
age 84 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Yo-Yo Ma 10 centuries of classical music
age 68 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Lorin Maazel 10 centuries of classical music
1930-2014 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Edward MacDowell 10 centuries of classical music
1860-1908 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Alma Mahler 10 centuries of classical music
1879-1964 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Henry Mancini 10 centuries of classical music
1924-1994 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Arturo Márquez 10 centuries of classical music
age 73 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Wynton Marsalis 10 centuries of classical music
age 62 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Charles Martin Loeffler 10 centuries of classical music
1861-1935 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Bohuslav Martinů 10 centuries of classical music
1890-1959 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Eduardo Mata 10 centuries of classical music
1942-1995 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Dimitri Mitropoulos 10 centuries of classical music
1896-1960 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Gabriela Montero 10 centuries of classical music
age 53 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Louis Moreau Gottschalk 10 centuries of classical music
1829-1869 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Nico Muhly 10 centuries of classical music
age 42 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Conlon Nancarrow 10 centuries of classical music
1912-1997 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Randy Newman 10 centuries of classical music
age 80 (20th century)
Conductor, Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Ervin Nyiregyházi 10 centuries of classical music
1903-1987 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Ignacy Jan Paderewski 10 centuries of classical music
1860-1941 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Knowles Paine 10 centuries of classical music
1839-1906 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Horatio Parker 10 centuries of classical music
1863-1919 (Romantic)
Performer & Composer
Harry Partch 10 centuries of classical music
1901-1974 (20th century)
Composer
Gregor Piatigorsky 10 centuries of classical music
1903-1976 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Walter Piston 10 centuries of classical music
1894-1976 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Manuel Ponce 10 centuries of classical music
1886-1948 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
André Previn 10 centuries of classical music
1929-2019 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Carlos Puebla 10 centuries of classical music
1917-1989 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Sergei Rachmaninoff 10 centuries of classical music
1873-1943 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Steve Reich 10 centuries of classical music
age 87 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Fritz Reiner 10 centuries of classical music
1888-1963 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Silvestre Revueltas 10 centuries of classical music
1899-1940 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Terry Riley 10 centuries of classical music
age 88 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
George Rochberg 10 centuries of classical music
1918-2005 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Clara Rockmore 10 centuries of classical music
1911-1998 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Richard Rodgers 10 centuries of classical music
1902-1979 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Sigmund Romberg 10 centuries of classical music
1887-1951 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Juventino Rosas 10 centuries of classical music
1868-1894 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Miklós Rózsa 10 centuries of classical music
1907-1995 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Carl Ruggles 10 centuries of classical music
1876-1971 (20th century)
Composer
Robert Russell Bennett 10 centuries of classical music
1894-1981 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Frederic Rzewski 10 centuries of classical music
1938-2021 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Curt Sachs 10 centuries of classical music
1881-1959 (20th century)
Composer
Lalo Schifrin 10 centuries of classical music
age 91 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Thomas Schippers 10 centuries of classical music
1930-1977 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Arnold Schoenberg 10 centuries of classical music
1874-1951 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Gunther Schuller 10 centuries of classical music
1925-2015 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
William Schuman 10 centuries of classical music
1910-1992 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Roger Sessions 10 centuries of classical music
1896-1985 (20th century)
Composer
Anoushka Shankar 10 centuries of classical music
age 42 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Howard Shore 10 centuries of classical music
age 77 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Alexander Siloti 10 centuries of classical music
1863-1945 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Leonard Slatkin 10 centuries of classical music
age 79 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Nicolas Slonimsky 10 centuries of classical music
1894-1995 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Dang Thai Son 10 centuries of classical music
age 65 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Stephen Sondheim 10 centuries of classical music
1930-2021 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Philip Sousa 10 centuries of classical music
1854-1932 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Max Steiner 10 centuries of classical music
1888-1971 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Jim Steinman 10 centuries of classical music
1947-2021 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Eduard Steuermann 10 centuries of classical music
1892-1964 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Fritz Stiedry 10 centuries of classical music
1883-1968 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Igor Stravinsky 10 centuries of classical music
1882-1971 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
MasterpiecesComplete works
Alexei Sultanov 10 centuries of classical music
1969-2005 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
George Szell 10 centuries of classical music
1897-1970 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Albert Szirmai 10 centuries of classical music
1880-1967 (20th century)
Composer
Alexander Tcherepnin 10 centuries of classical music
1899-1977 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Randall Thompson 10 centuries of classical music
1899-1984 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Virgil Thomson 10 centuries of classical music
1896-1989 (20th century)
Conductor & Composer
Michael Tilson Thomas 10 centuries of classical music
age 79 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Dimitri Tiomkin 10 centuries of classical music
1894-1979 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Charles Tomlinson Griffes 10 centuries of classical music
1884-1920 (20th century)
Composer
David Tudor 10 centuries of classical music
1926-1996 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Brian Tyler 10 centuries of classical music
age 51 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Frank Van der Stucken 10 centuries of classical music
1858-1929 (Romantic)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Claude Vivier 10 centuries of classical music
1948-1983 (20th century)
Composer
Rufus Wainwright 10 centuries of classical music
age 50 (20th century)
Lyrical singer, Performer & Composer
Kurt Weill 10 centuries of classical music
1900-1950 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Jaromír Weinberger 10 centuries of classical music
1896-1967 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Chou Wen-chung 10 centuries of classical music
1923-2019 (20th century)
Composer
John Williams 10 centuries of classical music
age 92 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Paul Wittgenstein 10 centuries of classical music
1887-1961 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Charles Wuorinen 10 centuries of classical music
1938-2020 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Christopher Young 10 centuries of classical music
age 65 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
La Monte Young 10 centuries of classical music
age 88 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
Efrem Zimbalist 10 centuries of classical music
1889-1985 (20th century)
Conductor, Performer & Composer
Hans Zimmer 10 centuries of classical music
age 66 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
John Zorn 10 centuries of classical music
age 70 (20th century)
Performer & Composer
See also...
Timelines : Composers
- 10 centuries of classical music
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- The beginnings of classical music, 1000 ... 1500
- The rise of classical music, 1500 ... 2000
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- Medieval * Renaissance * Baroque * Classical * Romantic * XXe
- Romantic : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- XXe : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1400 - 1500 : The 15th-century classical music composers
- 1500 - 1600 : The 16th-century classical music composers
- 1600 - 1700 : The 17th-century classical music composers + ( 1600 - 1650 ) + ( 1650 - 1700 )
- 1700 - 1800 : The 18th-century classical music composers + ( 1700 - 1750 ) + ( 1750 - 1800 )
- 1800 - 1900 : The 19th-century classical music composers
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1800 - 1850 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1850 - 1900 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1900 - 2000 : The 20th-century classical music composers
- Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1900 - 1950 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
- 1950 - 2000 : Europe * North America * South America * Asia * Oceania * Africa
Indexes
- All composers : by era * by country
- by alphabetical order : A * B * C * D * E * F * G * H * I * J * K * L * M * N * O * P * Q * R * S * T * U * V * W * X * Y * Z
- Young artists (Composers)
Other timelines
Commemorations 2024, 2025, ...
Last update : 2024-03-10