Guide to Listening: Festival of Female Composers and Women of Jazz Fest

Surrounding International Women’s Day, ABC Classic and ABC Jazz are celebrating women in classical music and jazz with the Festival of Female Composers and Women of Jazz Fest.

Jump to our listening guides: Festival of Female Composers on ABC Classic | Women of Jazz Fest on ABC Jazz

Across March 3–7, ABC Classic is playing music exclusively by female composers, from historical trailblazers like Hildegard von Bingen to the women creating music in Australia today.

Hear the beautiful music of romantic pianist/composers Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn in Mornings, from 9am daily. Both led fascinating musical lives.

Closer to home, Mairi Nicolson talks with the daughter of Australian composer Miriam Hyde. Christine Edwards shares stories and her mother’s music on Legends at 6pm on Tuesday 4 March.

The week also brings two special live music events. 

On Friday 7 March, Dr Lou Bennett performs with the Australian String Quartet for Drive Live, off the back of her Adelaide Festival performance.

Celebrating International Women’s Day itself, you can hear a live broadcast of Liza Lim’s new cello concerto performed by cellist Nicholas Altstaedt with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Join ABC Jazz for the fourth annual Women of Jazz Fest from March 3–9.

Kicking of with Australian pianist Lauren Tsamouris as the ABC Jazz Artist in Residence for March, the week also celebrates legendary pianist Judy Bailey with an unearthed interview from 1975.

Eric Ajaye delves into the career and music of Sarah Vaughan on Jazz Legends and new album, Women of Jazz ’25, showcases some of the finest artists from Australia, recorded by ABC Jazz.

Guide to Listening: Festival of Female Composers

Dr Lou Bennett AM will perform with the Australian String Quartet especially for Drive Live on March 7. (Photo: Eduardus Lee)

Monday 3 March

1pm Lunchtime Concert special: Women of the Baroque
8pm Evenings: Highlights from Women of Note, Volumes 1—6

Tuesday 4 March

1pm Lunchtime Concert special: Symphonic music by women
6pm Legends: Miriam Hyde with her daughter, Christine Edwards
8pm Evenings: Highlights from Women of Note Volumes 1—6

Wednesday 5 March

1pm Lunchtime Concert special: Women composers of the piano
6pm What’s On: Must hear 2025 — Female composers in concert
8pm Evenings: Highlights from Women of Note Volumes 1—6

Thursday 6 March

1pm Lunchtime Concert special: Leading screen composers
8pm Evenings: Highlights from Women of Note Volumes 1—6

Friday 7 March

1pm Lunchtime Concert special: The future is female — Living composers shaping the sound of our future
5pm Classic Drive: Drive Live with the Australian String Quartet and Dr Lou Bennett AM
8pm Evenings: Full play of new release album Women of Note Volume 7
11pm Hildathon: Seven hours of bliss to see you through the night with music by Hildegard von Bingen

Saturday 8 March

1pm Lunchtime Concert special: Celebrating women conductors
7:30pm Classic Live: Liza Lim’s new Cello Concerto A Sutured World, performed by Nicholas Altsteadt with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Hosted by Stéphanie Kabanyana Kanyandekwe.

Guide to Listening: Women of Jazz Fest

ABC Jazz Artist in Residence Lauren Tsamouras will share a special playlist of piano trios for the Women of Jazz Fest. (ABC Jazz)

3–9 March

Feature Album: Women of Jazz ’25
Classic Album: Mary Lou Williams’s At Rick’s Cafe Americain (1979)

Monday 3 March

7pm The Dinner Set with Monica Trapaga: Women of Jazz Fest special featuring Spanish/US pianist Marina Albero

Saturday 8 March

11am Jazz Legends: Sarah Vaughn hits the airwaves with historic and musical insight from presenter Eric Ajaye
4pm Jazztrack Live: Take a set from guitarist Emily Remler and her band in 1988

Sunday 9 March

9am Upbeat: James Valentine puts the spotlight on Tracey Yang, an amazing leader in large-ensemble jazz
2pm Artist in Residence: A special playlist of piano trios curated by Lauren Tsamouris
4pm Jazztack featuring archive ABC recordings featuring international leaders and emerging artists

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