Geneviève Calame

Full biography Geneviève Calame

Geneviève Calame was a Swiss composer and music educator, born in Geneva in 1906. She studied at the Geneva Conservatory with Joseph Lauber and became one of the first Swiss women to earn a degree in composition in 1933.

Calame's style was heavily influenced by the music of her contemporaries, including Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók. Her works were often characterized by their clear structure and use of rhythmic patterns. She wrote in a range of genres, from solo piano pieces to chamber music, vocal works, and orchestral works.

As an educator, Calame helped to establish the École de Musique de Lausanne and the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève. Her approach to teaching emphasized the development of a student's individual voice and a deep understanding of musical traditions.

Calame was also an active performer and conductor, regularly presenting her own works and championing the music of other Swiss composers. Her influence helped to pave the way for other women composers in Switzerland, who faced considerable barriers in the male-dominated music scene of the time.

Throughout her career, Calame's music received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Prix de la Fondation suisse pour la musique in 1962. She continued to compose and perform until her death in 1988. Today, her legacy as an inspiring composer and educator continues to be celebrated by Swiss musicians and music lovers alike.