Early modern women composers enjoyed tremendous success creating new works in convents, courts, academies, and domestic settings. From their pens we have groundbreaking contributions to nearly every major musical genre of the time, although their accomplishments have often been omitted from historical narratives. In this presentation, we will explore the various venues in which these women worked and take a deep dive into the ways their compositions helped shape the trajectory of Western classical music.

Dr. Paula Maust is a performer, scholar, and educator committed to fusing research and creative practice to amplify underrepresented voices. She is the creator of Expanding the Music Theory Canon, an open-source collection of music theory examples by historical women and/or people of color that is used around the world. A print anthology based on the project was released by SUNY Press in December 2023. Paula is also an early modern editor for Oxford University Press’s women, gender, and sexuality revision of Grove Music Online. As a harpsichordist and organist she co-directs Musica Spira, a baroque chamber ensemble dedicated to telling the stories of early modern women musicians. Paula also performs extensively in the Baltimore, MD—Washington, D.C. area with numerous ensembles, including the Washington Bach Consort and the Folger Consort. She is currently working on a recording of works by Isabella Leonarda and Maria Perucona with Musica Spira, and her debut solo album featuring Elizabeth Turner’s 1756 Lessons for the Harpsichord is expected to be released next year. Paula is an Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. More info: paulamaust.com