New York Times, 4/22/10 interview with composer Jennifer Higdon

Ms. Higdon has had her share of detractors, who told her she couldn’t compose because she started so late; that a flute performance major couldn’t be a composer; that she would never make a living; and that she would never get into graduate school. Some male composers have grumbled to her face that she’s only been successful because she’s a woman.

“Everyone runs into naysayers,” Ms. Higdon said, ”but if you love something enough and feel passionately enough, you just go on ahead, walk right around the person saying it, proceed down the road and don’t look back.”