Women in Music History

Description: This quiz will test your knowledge about the contributions and achievements of women in music history.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: music history women in music composers performers
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

Who was the first woman to conduct a major symphony orchestra?

  1. Nadia Boulanger

  2. Fanny Mendelssohn

  3. Antonina Nezhdanova

  4. Marin Alsop


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Nadia Boulanger was a French composer, conductor, and teacher who became the first woman to conduct a major symphony orchestra when she led the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1938.

Which female composer is known for her opera Carmen?

  1. Clara Schumann

  2. Hildegard von Bingen

  3. Amy Beach

  4. Georges Bizet


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Georges Bizet was a French composer who wrote the opera Carmen, which is one of the most popular operas in the world.

Who was the first woman to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year?

  1. Aretha Franklin

  2. Whitney Houston

  3. Norah Jones

  4. Taylor Swift


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Norah Jones won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2003 for her album Come Away with Me.

Which female composer is known for her work with electronic music?

  1. Pauline Oliveros

  2. Laurie Spiegel

  3. Suzanne Ciani

  4. Wendy Carlos


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Pauline Oliveros was an American composer, accordionist, and electronic music pioneer who is known for her work with electronic music and experimental music.

Who was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music?

  1. Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

  2. Joan Tower

  3. Jennifer Higdon

  4. Julia Wolfe


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1983 for her composition Three Movements for Orchestra.

Which female singer is known for her powerful vocals and signature beehive hairdo?

  1. Aretha Franklin

  2. Tina Turner

  3. Whitney Houston

  4. Beyoncé


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist who is known for her powerful vocals and signature beehive hairdo.

Who was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

  1. Aretha Franklin

  2. Tina Turner

  3. Whitney Houston

  4. Madonna


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aretha Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Which female composer is known for her opera La traviata?

  1. Giuseppe Verdi

  2. Giacomo Puccini

  3. Gioachino Rossini

  4. Vincenzo Bellini


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer who wrote the opera La traviata, which is one of the most popular operas in the world.

Who was the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist?

  1. Norah Jones

  2. Alicia Keys

  3. Christina Aguilera

  4. Avril Lavigne


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Norah Jones won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003.

Which female composer is known for her work with microtonal music?

  1. Pauline Oliveros

  2. Laurie Spiegel

  3. Suzanne Ciani

  4. Wendy Carlos


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Wendy Carlos was an American composer, arranger, and electronic music pioneer who is known for her work with microtonal music and electronic music.

Who was the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic?

  1. Marin Alsop

  2. JoAnn Falletta

  3. Sarah Caldwell

  4. Judith Somogi


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Marin Alsop was the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic in 2007.

Which female singer is known for her signature song "Respect"?

  1. Aretha Franklin

  2. Tina Turner

  3. Whitney Houston

  4. Beyoncé


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aretha Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist who is known for her signature song "Respect".

Who was the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Song of the Year?

  1. Carole King

  2. Melissa Etheridge

  3. Lauryn Hill

  4. Alicia Keys


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Carole King won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1971 for her song "You've Got a Friend".

Which female composer is known for her work with musique concrète?

  1. Pauline Oliveros

  2. Laurie Spiegel

  3. Suzanne Ciani

  4. Eliane Radigue


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Eliane Radigue is a French composer who is known for her work with musique concrète and electronic music.

Who was the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year?

  1. Peggy Lee

  2. Ella Fitzgerald

  3. Billie Holiday

  4. Sarah Vaughan


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Peggy Lee won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1969 for her song "Is That All There Is?".

- Hide questions