Born just a few years after Mozart died, Franz Schubert had a lot in common with the famous composer. Schubert was also a gifted child who astonished adults with his musical ability. As a teen, Schubert was taught by one of Mozart s rivals. And like Mozart, Schubert s life ended prematurely and was filled with struggle. Still, while Mozart was celebrated across Europe, Schubert was almost completely unknown until just a few years before his death. The challenges of Schubert s life inspired his artmusic which is today performed across the world. Schubert s life, his challenges, and his compositions are all reasons he is considered one of the greatest composers.