Celebrating Women in Classical Music History with AlexMarie in Pembroke Pines
- Teresita "Angela" Terga
- Sep 7
- 12 min read
Updated: Sep 18
Muisc history never got better at pembroke pines
Ladies and gentlemen, this concert delivered! Classical brilliance at its finest—an inspiring performance that set the stage for future must-see events. With her radiant vocal range and warm timbres, Alex Marie conquered the stage, the night, and our hearts.
Her crystalline pitch and golden timbre, paired with a supple vibrato and commanding dynamics, made for a performance both captivating and soul-stirring.
Her vocal range soared and dipped with exhilarating highs and bellowing lows, each note delivered with flawless pitch and control Her voice carried a thrilling warmth, enveloping the listener in a sound bath of intimate power.
It's hard to find quality musical shows that transcend mediocrity and transform the vibe. This musical extravaganza received a great welcoming from the community.
Our communities are thirsty for the classics. Every community needs this.
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A world-class classical concert transcending genre and gender: Celebrating Women in Classical Music.
Hosted at the Pembroke Pines Southwest Regional Library auditoriuyoum and supported by Broward County’s Cultural Division, lyric soprano Alexandra Marie’s concert, Celebrating Women in Classical Music, was a world-class act that calls for touring.
This immersive concert celebrating culture raises awareness of the finest musicians in the world who happen to be women. It's the opportunity to discover and tune into classical music history from the 19th to the 21st Century and experience musical excellence.
To honor the fearless, groundbreaking women composers and songstresses featured in this concert, none better than another badass, trailblazing woman in music. Alexandra Marie.
Alexandra Marie is a one-of-a-kind, devoted musician, dedicated teacher, and dynamic performer, wife, friend, and cultural ambassador.
Truly a splendor who juggles her roles with joy, enjoying the unfolding of her dreams coming true.
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For bookings go here.
You may think dreams don't have anything to do with Celebrating Women in Classical Music HIstory. But dreams is what brings to us this great show, not only AlexMarie's dreams to bring South Florida
Dreams do come true - and here is a poem from Langston Hughes to remind us of why we need to keep our dreams alive.
Each woman musician featured in Alex Marie's fabulous concert below made their dream of being a composer a reality. Few women had the privilege of being composers or even playing a musical instrument in an orchestra. Their perseverance and trailblazing success have paved the way for other women musicians.
"Dreams," a poem by Langston Hughes, on which one of Alex Marie's musical compositions, "Hold Fast to Dreams," was based, reminds us that we must strive to make our dreams come true. I hope you have a dream, like I do, and that your dreams come true a day at a time. Alex is an inspiration.
The experience of this concert was nothing short of mesmerizing—a vocal journey that lingered long after the final note in my body and soul.
celebrating classical women musicans
On September 4th, 2025, LYRIC SOPRANO, ALEXANDRA MARIE, premiered her show "CELEBRATING WOMEN IN CLASSICAL MUSIC" —an intimate gathering of music in the community of PEMBROKE PINES, FL— a true class act, no doubt.
It was an immersive experience for the audience. Not just in the breadth of the harmonic scope and the richness of the vocal prowess of the performer, but in the depth of meaning behind each musical piece. Each composer's life and musical journey flashed before our eyes as we listened to their musical compositions. Each musician represents a historical link in humanity's consciousness.
Good music can make one feel like a leaf in the wind and continue to feel its effects in our aura, especially classical music, for hours and even days. Sound waves penetrate our body's sphere, or aura, including our internal organs. The mind-body stimuli linger and heal. I personally felt enthralled and exhilarated. And you might appreciate it, too. Thus, is the power of classical music on the self. It elevates the spirit by transforming sound into a timeless journey of beauty.
The sheer vocal prowess AlexMarie (alexmarie.com
) displays in her concerts captivates, as every note is delivered with precision and emotional depth.
—privileged to roll the show forward, this was my script:
(enjoy the show)
MC-
Good evening, everyone! It is a privilege to welcome you all tonight as we come together to honor the brilliance of women composers in history and the artists who bring their gifts to us.
Note: I had never been an MC before but I loved it. However, there are many things I would do differently.
This is a good opportunity to mention CAMP's Peace Talk & Artshop workshop, where the audience doesn't just sit and listen but interacts with the speaker and makes art..
This is CAMP — Conscious Arts Media Productions, fomenting the power of art to inspire, uplift, and build peace. Founded by T. A. Terga, writer, author, publisher, and producer.
See the flyers below. Books a free Peace Talk & Artshop at your event.
TRANSCRIPT:
MC - Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce Alexandra Marie, an accomplished Argentine-American lyric soprano, educator, and songwriter. After moving to the United States, she pursued advanced music studies, earned scholarships, and performed with numerous symphony orchestras and Zarzuela companies across the Americas. Her work highlights Latin American composers and celebrates women in music, as seen in her albums—most notably "Esencia De Mujer"
Renowned for her luminous voice and expressive artistry across diverse musical styles, it is my pleasure to present to you,
Lyric Soprano …Alexandra Marie
Her creative projects, including Beloved Melodies of the Americas and the recording, Esencia de Mujer, were supported by multiple grants from the Broward Cultural Division and the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council, recognizing her as both a distinguished performer and cultural ambassador.
In 2024, her career reached international stages with invitations like the “Artango World Meeting” in Greece, affirming her growing global recognition. Alexandra is a passionate educator who mentors and inspires the next generation of musicians through voice instruction and workshops.
But before we listen to her dynamic voice, ladies and gentlemen, the first woman in classical music, and the world, who has broken barriers of race, gender, and class—the best of what America represents—Florence Price.
Florence Price (1887-1953)
Florence Price's journey was one of both pioneering artistry and personal resilience. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887, she demonstrated exceptional musical promise from a young age, guided by her mother's encouragement. After earning two diplomas from the New England Conservatory by age nineteen, Price embarked on a career as an educator and composer, teaching at various institutions and composing an impressive body of work—numbering over 450 pieces, nearly half for piano. Her Piano Concerto in One Movement garnered national acclaim, and her legacy as an educator inspired generations.
Despite success, Price faced significant personal and societal challenges, including financial hardship and racial discrimination. After her marriage to Thomas Jewell Price ended due to domestic difficulties, she remarried, striving to provide stability for her children. In 1927, seeking a more supportive environment, Price relocated to Chicago, where she immersed herself in the city's vibrant musical community. There, she continued her studies, published extensively, and saw her compositions performed by major orchestras, cementing her place as a foundational figure in American music. Her music, which blends classical and African American folk traditions, includes four symphonies, four concertos, and numerous art songs, choral works, and chamber pieces.
It was here that I did not mention Langston Hughes as the creator and copyright of the popular poem Dreams on which the composition created by Florience Price was based on.
PLEASE WELCOME, LYRIC SOPRANO… ALEXANDRA MARIE
“HOLD FAST TO DREAMS” by Florence Price
ON PIANO...
We are honored to be accompanied by the talented pianist Dr. Jared Peroune. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in collaborative piano from the University of Miami and is an established vocal coach and chamber musician. Dr. Peroune has collaborated with a wide range of vocalists and instrumentalists throughout South Florida and in Italy. He brings both artistry and expertise to every performance. Please join me in welcoming… Dr. Jared Peroune.
Each of Tthe following brief biographies of women in classical music is followed by a YT Video of their work.
The first amazing woman in classical music in this program was Nadia Boulanger. Although I skipped her and her sister Lili.
Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979)
Born in Paris, Nadia Boulanger was a renowned and inspiring teacher who encouraged creativity and upheld high standards in music. Her students included many prominent composers, soloists, conductors, and arrangers from the US and other English- speaking countries, such as Aaron Coplan, Leonard Berstein and Astor Piazzolla. As a composer, she produced many works, especially vocals, but finally dedicated herself to teaching and performing, leaving the composing stardom to her sister, Lili Boulanger.
As a pioneering conductor, she broke gender barriers by leading major orchestras in Europe and the US, including the Royal Philharmonic and Boston Symphony. Her legacy endures in music education, technical mastery, and as a trailblazer for women in music. She is remembered as a pioneering figure who broke down barriers for women in music and left a lasting impact on the world of music.
MC - Thank you! Next in our program is the gifted Lili Boulanger.
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
Lili Boulanger, French composer, child prodigy, and one of the most exciting composers of the 20th century. Nadia and Lili were nurtured by a musical family: her father was a conductor and composer, as well as her mother, who was a Russian princess. Lili was the first woman to win the prestigious Prix de Rome composition prize. Despite a tragically short life, she left a lasting impact on 20th-century music, blending Impressionist beauty with profound emotional depth. She studied with Debussy as well as Gabriel Fauré, like her sister Nadia. Her early talent was evident, and she received a thorough musical education from her family and the Paris Conservatoire. She notably battled chronic illness throughout her life, including intestinal tuberculosis, which ultimately led to her death at the age of 24. Lili Boulanger's song,"Reflets," was inspired by the interplay of light and shadow, drawing from the visual arts, particularly French Impressionist and German Expressionist paintings. She was fascinated by the colors, timbres, and the exploration of the human soul in both musical and pictorial schools.
And now, “REFLETS” By Lili Boulanger
MC - Thank you! Next in our program is the gifted Lili Boulanger.
Our next extraordianry woman in classical music is non other than an Oscar winner, a Golden Globe winner, and many times celebrated and nominated,
Rachel Portman (1960-Present)
Rachel Portman is a highly acclaimed British composer known for her work in film, television, and theater. She notably became the first female composer to win an Academy Award for Best Original Score, for her work on the film "Emma" in 1996.
Additionally, Portman received two Oscar nominations for "The Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat", with "Chocolat" also earning her a Golden Globe nomination. Portman's musical range extends beyond film scores. She has written for an opera, including "The Little Prince" which premiered with Houston Grand Opera. She also composed "The Water Diviner's Tale", a dramatic choral symphony for the BBC Proms. The poem “There will be a place for Us”, compose by Portman in 2024, has text by American poet architect and poet Dorothy Trogdon, who started writing poems at 80 years old and just passed away in June, 2025. This song depicts her retirement place, Orca Island, in San Juan Islands, in Washington State.
"THERE WILL BE A PLACE FOR US” By Rachel Portman
MC Thank you! And now in our program, transforming modern experiences with poignant lyrics, is the profound Melissa Dumphy.
Melissa Dunphy (1980 - Present)
Melissa Dunphy is an Australia-born composer of oriental ancestry who moved to the U.S. in 2003. Recognized for her vocal, theatrical, and politically themed works, she gained national prominence with the Gonzales Cantata in 2009 and has since created notable pieces for major ensembles. Her music has received significant awards and media attention.
Dunphy was awarded an Independence Foundation Fellowship in the Arts in 2024, and notable grants, include the Opera America Discovery Grant for her opera, Alice Tierney, which premiered in 2023. Dunphy has served as composer-in-residence for several ensembles and has received commissions from major groups like the BBC Singers and VOCES8. She is also recognized for her theater music and her decade-long role at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Puppetry Conference.
Melissa Dunphy holds advanced degrees in composition, teaches at Rutgers University, and leads nonprofit boards. She is also a citizen archaeologist and podcaster, currently planning to open the Necessary Museum to showcase Philadelphia colonial artifacts. Melissa Dunphy leads boards for Wildflower Composers and Lyric Fest, and, alongside her husband, co-hosts a podcast on Philadelphia colonial archaeology while planning to open a museum for their discoveries in 2026.
***WORDS BY ALEXANDRA OCASIO-CORTEZ*** Wow! From the steps of the House committee to the senate committee hearing. She said, "He pointed his finger at my head," That's scary and the incident was cause for the politician's dismissal, if there is one in politics.
Revolutionary and transformative classical music has met its match. If it was Mozart or Beethoven once, it is Melissa Dunphy today.
“Just Another Day, excerpt from “THE JOB” By Melissa Dumphy
MC Thank You! In our final part of tonight’s program honoring women composers, we have
Three 20th century brilliant and uniquely treasured women classic Songstresses:
Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
World legendry songstress Edith Piaf, born in Paris, overcame a troubled childhood to become a legendary singer after being discovered on the streets by Louis Leplée, who called her “La Môme Piaf” (The Little Sparrow). She rose to fame with her deeply emotional performances and later found international acclaim, also mentoring artists such as Yves Montand and Charles Aznavour.
Piaf’s life was shadowed by personal tragedy, including the deaths of her daughter and her lover Marcel Cerdan, as well as struggles with addiction and injuries from car accidents. Despite these hardships, Piaf’s passionate voice and presence continued to captivate audiences worldwide until her death in 1963.
For you. “La Vie en Rose” by Edith Piaf
“Hymn of Love” by Edith Piaf
MC Thank You! A legend in her own time, Marlene Dietrich.
READ BIO Marlene Dietrich (1901 –1992)
Marie Magdalene "Marlene" Dietrich was a German-born actress and singer who rose to stardom in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned for her striking beauty, captivating voice, and air of sophisticated allure, Dietrich became one of the most glamorous figures in cinema. Her distinctive fashion sense, especially her pioneering use of trousers and androgynous attire, set new trends and shaped American style for generations. Dietrich became a U.S. citizen in 1937 and passionately supported the American war effort during World War II. Through her diverse roles and iconic presence, she redefined what it meant to be a leading lady and left an indelible mark on film and fashion history. Marlene Dietrich's most important film is The Blue Angel (1930), which launched her international career. Her signature songs are “Falling in Love again” and “Marlene Lily”. At the end of her life, Dietrich lived as a recluse in Paris after a final stage performance in 1975.
“Falling in Love Again” by Marlene Dietrich
MC – Good Night
Ladies and gentlemen, as we come to the close of this evening’s concert, Celebrating Women Composers in Classical Music, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who made tonight possible.
We gratefully acknowledge the Broward Cultural Division and our local business partners for their generous support and commitment to the arts. Your partnership is the foundation that allows programs like this to flourish in our community.
A very special thank-you goes to our remarkable performers—Alexandra Marie, whose radiant voice brought these works to life, and Dr. Jared Peroune, whose artistry at the piano carried us through this unforgettable journey of music.
And finally, to you, our wonderful audience—thank you for being here, for your enthusiasm, and for celebrating with us the extraordinary contributions of women composers. Your presence is what keeps the arts alive.
On behalf of everyone involved, I wish you a safe journey home and invite you to continue supporting the arts in our community. Good night, and until we meet again, may music and peace accompany you.
Alexandra played two more songs; the night was young, and we were okay on time. The next song by an awesome woman composer, a Latin woman, was "Júrame" by Maria Grever. She is recognized as the first female Mexican composer to achieve international acclaim in 1927.
We want to share what this site had to say:
The song is a masterpiece of one of the best Mexican composers: María Grever. She was born in León, Guanajuato by the end of the XIX Century. When she was young she was really into music and she was even studying with Claude Debussy. As a trend of the time, she was composing many pieces for films.
Nowadays the “Plácido Domingo of our times”, Rolando Villazón gives an interpretation that entirely shocks me. It is really stunning to hear this song in his voice, so, here it is:
Grever wrote more than 1000 songs. She started working as a composser for Paramount Picture and 20th Century Fox in 1920 Joining the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers in 1935.
"Júrame" by Maria Grever
This concludes our journey of the five most sensational women in the world of classical music through the ages.
And now.... Please consider donating to CAMP, subscribing to our blog, and booking us for a fun and profound Peace–Talk & Artshop workshop at your organization.
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