Philadelphia is home to one of the world's most vibrant and well-documented musical heritages, stretching back to the colonial era. Innovations in classical music, opera, R&B, jazz, soul, and rock have earned the music of Philadelphia national and international renown. Philadelphia's musical institutions have long played an important role in the music of Pennsylvania and that of the nation, especially in the early development of hip hop music. Philadelphia's diverse population has also given it a reputation for styles ranging from dancehall to Irish traditional music, as well as a thriving classical and folk music scene.

Gustav Ludwig Wilhelm Hinrichs was a German-born American conductor and composer. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 19, where he became known especially as a conductor of opera in San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia. His compositions include four operas, many songs and instrumental works, and musical scores for silent films, including the 1925 version of The Phantom of the Opera.