Twenty‐one‐year‐old
composer/pianist
Christopher
LaRosa
was
born
and
raised
in
the
suburbs
of
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.
He
began
studying
the
piano
at
age
six
and
began
composing
at
age
eight.
His
small
town
upbringing
influenced
his
music,
providing
it
with
an
intimate
and
American
style.
LaRosa composes for diverse instrumentations and media. He has written for solo piano, solo flute, solo voice, choir, various chamber ensembles, orchestra, and band. He has scored several films including Cameron Munson’s “Bordenia,” Daniel Nedrud’s “Creep,” and Benjamin Alexander’s “Mr. Frog Finds a Friend,” and has written incidental music for a few productions, including the silent play “Black and White.” In addition, he has released seven albums, two of which benefited the Bravest Fund and the Make‐a‐Wish Foundation respectively.
In 2009, the Ithaca College School of Music commended LaRosa's academic and musical accomplishments with the Charles A. Hockett Award. In 2010, his song cycle "Spring Giddiness" won the Jack Downey Student Composition Prize and was also selected by the Boston Metro Opera for their 2nd Annual Contemporary AmericanFestival. Ithaca College's Alpha Nu chapter of the music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda recognized LaRosa with the 2010 Outstanding Sophomore Award. In 2011, his flute preludes “Mythologies” won second prize for the Louis Smadbeck Student Composition Competition. LaRosa has received commissions from Ernest Hilbert, Michael Allen and the Boynton Middle School Band, Mark Rice, and Dave Young of Pub Can Records.
The 2010 International Education of Students Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship allowed LaRosa to study in Vienna, Austria with composer Nancy Van de Vate during the Fall of 2010. He currently studies music composition at Ithaca College under the direction of Dana Wilson.
LaRosa composes for diverse instrumentations and media. He has written for solo piano, solo flute, solo voice, choir, various chamber ensembles, orchestra, and band. He has scored several films including Cameron Munson’s “Bordenia,” Daniel Nedrud’s “Creep,” and Benjamin Alexander’s “Mr. Frog Finds a Friend,” and has written incidental music for a few productions, including the silent play “Black and White.” In addition, he has released seven albums, two of which benefited the Bravest Fund and the Make‐a‐Wish Foundation respectively.
In 2009, the Ithaca College School of Music commended LaRosa's academic and musical accomplishments with the Charles A. Hockett Award. In 2010, his song cycle "Spring Giddiness" won the Jack Downey Student Composition Prize and was also selected by the Boston Metro Opera for their 2nd Annual Contemporary AmericanFestival. Ithaca College's Alpha Nu chapter of the music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda recognized LaRosa with the 2010 Outstanding Sophomore Award. In 2011, his flute preludes “Mythologies” won second prize for the Louis Smadbeck Student Composition Competition. LaRosa has received commissions from Ernest Hilbert, Michael Allen and the Boynton Middle School Band, Mark Rice, and Dave Young of Pub Can Records.
The 2010 International Education of Students Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship allowed LaRosa to study in Vienna, Austria with composer Nancy Van de Vate during the Fall of 2010. He currently studies music composition at Ithaca College under the direction of Dana Wilson.
