Teresa Carreño was a Venezuelan pianist, singer, and conductor. In 1862 her family immigrated to New York City, and she made her debut at Irving Hall that same year. In 1863 she performed for Abraham Lincoln at the White House.

In 1866 Teresa moved to Europe, and began touring, making her debut as an opera-singer in 1876. It wasn't until 1885 that she returned to Venezuela, and then only for a short period. In 1889 she returned to Europe for more touring, settling in Berlin as her home base. She mounted two world tours in the early years of the twentieth century, but her health deteriorated and she died in 1917, in New York City.

Teresa Carreño was also a composer; she composed at least 40 works for piano, two for voice and piano, two for choir and orchestra, and two as chamber music. She also left many incomplete works. On April 2, 1905, she recorded 18 pieces for the reproducing piano Welte-Mignon.