The Impact Of Female Black Music Composers You May Not Know About

There’s a sector of America’s vast music world that appears to be under the radar. But a music festival that has found a home in Rochester is keeping the work of some groundbreaking and legendary composers and musicians alive. For more than 20 years the Gateways Music Festival has shared the music and contributions of classical musicians of African descent. Nearly 100 classically-trained musicians from around the country gather in Rochester to perform at various venues throughout the city.
This year the biennial festival celebrated the musical creations of black women composers whose work was often not recorded or published. Need to Know’s Hélène Biandudi Hofer recently sat down with Paul Burgett, University Vice President and adjunct professor of music at the University of Rochester. He paid tribute to five selected black women composers at the Gateways Music Festival. He shares more about their impact on American culture.