Maria Theresa von Paradis was born 1859 in Vienna, Austria. Already blind in early childhood she showed considerable musical talent, which is why she was trained in singing, piano and composition. As an acclaimed pianist she toured throughout Europe. She was friends with Mozart, who wrote the Piano Concerto in B flat major (K. 456) for her.
She also wrote several vocal and instrumental works, several operas, a mourning ode and a light opera, along with numerous piano compositions. Maria Theresa von Paradis used a braille alphabet developed by a friend for composing.