Sarah Fritz is a writer, musician, and public musicologist specializing in the composer Clara Wieck-Schumann. Her passionate advocacy on social media seeks to change the dialogue around classical music composers from marginalized groups. She’s an in-demand guest speaker and lecturer, most recently for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s pre-concert talks, WWFM The Classical Network, Northeastern University, and the book launch of the Cambridge University Press’s Clara Schumann Studies.
Fritz has written about Clara Schumann for numerous publications including the New York Times, VAN Magazine, The Schubertian, and American Guild of Organists Magazine. Her popular Twitter account is dedicated to telling truths and debunking myths around the infamous Madame Schumann. She re-examines one of the most powerful composers and musicians in classical music history with a modern lens. Schumann’s works and life are placed in relevant context with overlooked research – including fresh perspectives on Schumann’s personal and professional relationships with her husband, Robert, and her friend and mentee, Johannes Brahms.
She maintains an in-depth research blog and a monthly newsletter about Clara Schumann with news updates on her forthcoming book. She holds an M.M. from Eastman School of Music and a B.M. from Westminster Choir College, and also teaches on the faculty of the Westminster Conservatory, Rider University.
What distinguishes Fritz’s work is the way in which she writes openly about Schumann’s life and art debunking myths and capturing the wonders of her artistry in ways at once engaging and accessible, intellectual and empathetic. That her tweets and articles speak to a wide audience across scholarship, performance, and the industry pays testament to Fritz’s eminence as both an educator and interlocutor.
Joe Davies, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow, University of California, Irvine & Maynooth University
Editor of Clara Schumann Studies from Cambridge University Press
Links:
Philadelphia Orchestra’s pre-concert talk on Clara Wieck-Schumann’s Piano Concerto, Oct. 2022
New York Times article: “Clara Schumann and Florence Price Get Their Due at Carnegie Hall,” Oct. 2022
Presentation at the launch of Clara Schumann Studies from Cambridge University Press, March 2022 (Fritz’s presentation begins at the video’s one hour mark.)
Interview on WWFM The Classical Network, August 2022
“Wieck Spot: Advocating for the music of Clara Schumann” for VAN Magazine, Nov. 2021
“Did Clara Schumann believe women shouldn’t compose?” for the Donne Foundation, Aug. 2021
For the daily tweet digest, her Twitter account is @sarahfritzwritr. To get new blog posts and writing updates in your inbox, here’s the newsletter. The Clara Schumann Channel is on YouTube and also on Instagram with the same handle, @SarahFritzWritr.
Contact:
For writing, speaking, or consult inquiries, email claraschumannchannel [at] gmail [dot] com. (Please do not send unsolicited music or writing. Thank you.)
There’s nothing I love more than answering questions or gabbing about the amazingly, fascinating Clara Schumann. My DMs are open on all social media platforms! And if you don’t know much about Clara yet, start with How Clara Schumann Changed History.
Performance bio:
Under her singer hat as mezzo-soprano, Sarah Fritz-Sensenig sings in the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Symphonic Choir. 2022 season highlights included Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at Carnegie Hall and the world premiere of Puts’s The Hours. She debuted with the New York Lyric Opera Theatre in the title role of Handel’s Alcina, and her other operatic roles include Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Nancy in Albert Herring, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, and Dido in Dido and Aeneas. She enjoys giving recitals with her pianist husband, especially singing the Lieder of her favorite composer, Clara Schumann.
The Clara Schumann Channel 