Kompozytorka

Kompozytorka is the feminine form of kompozytor in Polish, referring to a woman who composes music. It is a gendered agent noun formed with the suffix -torka, parallel to the masculine kompozytor. The term is used in musicology, journalism, biographies and educational materials to specify gender or to emphasize it in discussions of a composer’s work.

In ordinary speech and writing, the masculine form kompozytor is also used as a generic title when gender is unknown or when speaking of a group that includes men and women; kompozytorka is used when the person is known to be female. Plural forms follow the noun: kompozytorki for groups of women; kompozytorzy for groups of men or mixed groups. The use of gendered titles varies by context, with some editors preferring non-gendered language in formal or inclusive settings.

Notable examples of kompozytorki in Polish music include Grażyna Bacewicz, a 20th-century composer and violinist, whose career highlights the role of women in Polish contemporary classical music. The term also applies to female composers worldwide, across genres such as classical, contemporary, soundtrack and experimental music.