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background is a sheet of music with a purple overlay. Photo of Stratton on the left and a photo of Richie on the right. Below that in bold, white text is "Entering Music", with "Fridays at 10 am" and a white BTPM Classical logo below that
Entering Music

Clara & Fanny

By Stratton Rawson,
Richie English
Published July 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT
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background is a sheet of music with a purple overlay. Photo of Stratton on the left and a photo of Richie on the right. Below that in bold, white text is "Entering Music", with "Fridays at 10 am" and a white BTPM Classical logo below that

The tale of the careers of two of the most famous women in the 19thcentury is now portrayed as a narrative of suppression and even oppression. But Stratton believes that Clara Wieck Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel did not lead lives they regarded as unfulfilled, and they didn’t regret marrying the men they married. “If that’s the case,” Richie suggested, “then let’s celebrate their accomplishments and quit lamenting their lost opportunities.”

Entering Music 2026
Stratton Rawson
Stratton Rawson grew up in the Hudson Valley of New York State midway between the Hudson River and the Appalachian Trail in the shadow of some the oldest mountains on earth.
See stories by Stratton Rawson
Richie English
Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Richie English has worked extensively as a pianist, teacher, and composer since childhood. He began studying piano at ten years old with Frieda Manes, and within a year was the youngest piano teacher registered with Denton, Cottier & Daniels in state history.
See stories by Richie English
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