Poster Gabriela Montero
Composer and pianist Gabriela Montero is the 2023 Classical Woman of the Year.
Anders Brogaard
Performance Today®

2023 Classical Woman of the Year: Gabriela Montero

Performance Today has selected acclaimed Venezuelan composer and pianist Gabriela Montero as the 2023 Classical Woman of the Year. This annual award recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the classical music art form and have inspired our listeners.

“I’m thrilled that Gabriela Montero is our 2023 Performance Today Classical Woman of the Year,” said Fred Child, host and senior editor of Performance Today. “She is a soulful artist at the piano, bringing out the beauty and humanity in a wide range of music, from Mozart to the heart-on-sleeve Romantics to 21st-century works. She is a fervent composer of music that speaks to the joy and tumult of our times. Her lifelong delight in improvisation fascinates and delights audiences around the world.

“She is equally committed to passionate work on behalf of emerging musicians in our field, and devoted to human rights causes, especially in her native Venezuela. Her unique combination of professional artistry and personal integrity brightens our art and inspires our souls. It’s with great pleasure that we recognize Gabriela with this well-deserved award.”

Gabriela Montero
Gabriela Montero has been recognized for her commitment to human-rights advocacy in Venezuela.
Shelley Mosman

Born in Venezuela, Montero is a celebrated pianist and composer known for her visionary interpretations and unique compositional gifts. She has performed in many of the world's leading orchestras and has received critical acclaim for her exceptional musicality and ability to improvise. Montero’s recordings have won many awards, including the Latin Grammy for best classical album, the Heidelberger Frühling Music Prize and the 4th International Beethoven Award. Her first full-length composition, Piano Concerto No. 1 (Latin Concerto), was performed in 2016 at the Leipzig Gewandhaus.

She also is a committed advocate for human rights. She was named an Honorary Consul by Amnesty International and also was recognized by the Human Rights Foundation for her ongoing commitment to human-rights advocacy in Venezuela.

“I am very humbled to accept the honor of Performance Today’s Classical Woman of the Year, 2023,” she said upon finding out she has been chosen for the honor. “My special thanks to all of you at American Public Media, but especially to our supportive listeners nationwide, without whom our music would fall silent. Keep listening!”

Montero was selected by the staff of Performance Today based on listener nominations, submitted in March.

She will be recognized on the March 31 episode of Performance Today, including a conversation with Child about her extensive career and accomplishments.

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

Conductor Elim Chan

Conductor Elim Chan

Conductor Elim Chan works with orchestras worldwide. She stays fit by boxing; she appreciates situations where she might get a black eye if she loses concentration. On today’s show, conductor and boxer Elim Chan leads the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra at a concert in Berlin.

1:59:00
Ravel's String Quartet

Ravel's String Quartet

French composer Maurice Ravel wrote so much wonderful music, but only once did he write a piece for two violins, viola, and cello. We don’t need to call it Quartet No. 1 by Ravel... It's the ONLY String Quartet by Ravel. Join us today—we'll take you to a concert in Portland, Oregon, to hear the Catalyst Quartet play the String Quartet by Maurice Ravel.

1:59:00
Young Artist in Residence: Emad Zolfaghari

Young Artist in Residence: Emad Zolfaghari

Emad Zolfaghari is the next of our 2025 cohort of PT Young Artists in Residence. He recently joined Fred Child in our St. Paul studio. You can hear Emad’s music and the entire interview here.

43:21
Meet Emad Zolfaghari

Meet Emad Zolfaghari

For Emad Zolfaghari, a viola bow is more than just a tool. He says, "You have to play by feel... so I think bows are much more personal than instruments." On today's program, PT Young Artist in Residence violist Emad Zolfaghari shares his thoughts on bows, music, and life.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: The Piano Puzzler

PT Weekend: The Piano Puzzler

Every week on our Piano Puzzler, composer Bruce Adolphe rewrites a familiar tune in the style of a great composer. One of our listeners calls in, tries to guess the tune and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking. Tune in and play along with our weekly musical game: the Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
Bomsori Kim

Bomsori Kim

Bomsori Kim began taking piano lessons when she was five years old, but after seeing a violin concert, little Bomsori demanded an end to her piano lessons and a start on the violin. Thirty years later, she's a star. On today's show, we'll hear violinist Bomsori Kim play at a concert in Germany.

1:59:00
Lara Downes

Lara Downes

Pianist Lara Downes's passion for sharing the music of underrepresented composers goes beyond performing onstage. She's also been hard at work making this previously overlooked music accessible for other musicians to play. On today's show, Lara Downes plays Harry T. Burleigh's "From the Southland" at a concert in Brevard, North Carolina.

1:59:00
Time for another Piano Puzzler!

Time for another Piano Puzzler!

Every week on our Piano Puzzler, composer Bruce Adolphe rewrites a familiar tune in the style of a great composer. One of our listeners calls in, tries to guess the tune and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking. Tune in and play along with our weekly musical game: the Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
Paul Wiancko: Lift

Paul Wiancko: Lift

American composer Paul Wiancko wrote a piece named LIFT, his "ode to joy...a journey of the soul." On this episode of Performance Today, hear the Aeolus Quartet give an inspired performance of LIFT by Paul Wiancko.

1:59:00
James Lee III

James Lee III

James Lee III is the composer of over 80 works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, piano, vocals, choral ensemble, and more. Lee is currently composer-in-residence with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. In today's program, we'll take you to a concert in South Carolina* to hear Anthony McGill and the Pacifica Quartet play the Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet by James Lee III. *Please note: this performance took place as part of the Lillian & Robert Utsey Chamber Music Series at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00