Composition can't really be taught, it is a lifelong learning.

- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

If you're a composer, there's never a moment you're not working.

- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

I had gotten to the point where I was either going to play the violin much better or I was going to break it over my knee.

- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

All talk of method and style seemed suddenly trivial; I became interested in meaning. I wanted to say something musically about life and living.

- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

When you try to do something you've never done before, you risk falling on your face.

- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich