Death of trailblazing US woman composer, 92
RIPThe American Composers Alliance has notified us of the passing of Nancy Van de Vate, founder in 1975 of the League of Women Composers. Nancy was 92 and had lived since 1985 in Vienna.
Among her many works are the operas All Quiet on the Western Front, Hamlet and Where The Cross Is Madeafter. In 1987 she wrote Chernobyl, a response to the nuclear catastrophe. She established the record label Vienna Modern Masters around that time.
Van de Vate taught at Memphis State University, the University of Tennessee, Maryville and Knoxville College, and the University of Hawaii. She also played viola in the Knoxville Symphony.
I really think that in 2023 the lady could just be referred to as a ’composer.’
I’m not familiar with any of her work but even so her gender is irrelevant.
Her gender may be irrelevant today but that is because of what she and many others have done over many years.
Yet another example of a composer whose instrument is or was the viola. The list is a long one.
http://www.bruceduffie.com/vandevate.html
An interview sent over by Bruce Duffie in Chicago, and formerly WNIB presenter, that is worth a read!