Nadia Boulanger Biography

The music teacher who taught leading musicians, composers and conductors like John Eliot Gardiner, Quincy Jones, Aaron Copland and Philip Glass, Nadia Boulanger is considered one of the best music teachers of the 20th century. She was also a world renowned composer and conductor who performed as a pianist and organist. Born into a musical family, music came naturally to her. It might come as a surprise that as a little girl Nadia found music repulsive as she was surrounded by music all day long! Gradually she overcame her repulsion and realized her talent for all things musical. She received lessons from some great teachers which helped to polish her natural skills. Her father was a renowned composer and the family lived comfortably. However, when her father died, the responsibility of providing for her mother and sister fell upon young Nadia’s shoulders and she took to teaching music to earn a livelihood. She was a keen composer and a highly skilled pianist. She became very popular playing in concerts which also added to her stance as a music teacher. She lived in an era marked by political turmoil and unrest. A kind hearted soul, she organized a charity along with her sister to help those affected by the war even as she juggled her busy career.