If I were to pick my favorite classical composers, I'd have to pick Rachmaninoff for his deep, dark melodies and Chopin for his all around amazingness.

What are some other people's opinions?

Rachmaninoff and Elgar. Rachmaninoff because I adore his symphonies and preludes, and Elgar for his violin and cello sonatas.

Ravel- orchestration, dissonance, and contrast esp. in Daphnis et Chloé.
Elgar- orchestration

Muaha! I shall interrupt the classical conformity here with rock music!!! Feel my wrath! xD

For any kind of mainstream music, my favorite "composer" is Queen. ^^
For the Celtic genre, Natalie MacMaster. (of course)
For classical, I couldn't tell you. I don't play it. xD

I wouldn't classify movie and video game music as "popular". I would consider a rock band "popular". Therefore I like classical more.

John Williams, Eric Whitacre, Hisaishi Jo, Ravel and Debussy, and Charles Villiers Stanford

According to professors at my college film music is "popular" music. I disagree completely when you look at the work of John Williams, Michael Kamen, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and Alan Silvestri.

As far as music I like playing: Sousa, Eric Whitacre and John Williams all the way. I prefer "for concert band" music rather than arrangements.

As far as listening music, the above and E.S. Posthumus. (Frakking EPIC music)

Ya... picked popular, but IMO modern movie, videogame and anime scores can still be considered as classical.

Personally I'll go with Mitsumune Shinkichi.

Tchaikovsky! For his beautiful ballets and interesting life.

for listening: Flow, Orange Range, most j-pop (can't really decide)
playing: Bernstein, Gershwin (esp. American in Paris), Bach, and Tchaikovsky.

The topic, "Classical" XD Even though that is a smaller spectrum than given.

Any who, I'd pick Beethoven as my first, and Chopin as a close Second.. Rachmaninoff in a close third too. :)

I can't say a favor any genre of composer. Each has their own unique sound and feeling and all of them are important to a well balanced musical appetite. I mean, I listen to a range that's from Euro-Beat/Trance to Gregorian Chant/Baroque.

When I play paino I much favor classical music. But when I play clarinet or flute I prefer to play music from movies or video games.

Now to my favorite compsosers, off the top of my head, Haydn, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and Bach. As well as many others I'm unable to name right now.

Nightmare...or Nobuo Uematsu

Yoshiki from X is quite good with his rock compositions, but his solo classical stuff is amazing.

I've always loved Mozart's music - and still do!
Oh, and Tchaikovsky.. (Swan lake = <3)

I've always loved Mozart's music - and still do!
Oh, and Tchaikovsky.. (Swan lake = <3)

I did Swan Lake for a solo ensamble

btw love the avie