Faculty

Chris Rozé

Assistant professor of practice


The music of Chris Rozé has been performed throughout the U.S. by ensembles such as the Boston Chamber Music Society, Earplay, Music Mobile, NuClassix, the Wellesley Music Conference, the Atlantic String Quartet with Laura Flax, The Washington Island Music Festival Chamber Players, Ingrid Gordon (founder of Percussia), the Zinkali Trio and others. His clarinet quintet, “Crisscross,” won first prize in the New England League ISCM Composition Contest (1989). His duo for marimba and saxophone, “Jitterbug/Ballad,” won second prize in the Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest (2001) and is published by HoneyRock Publ.

Recently, his trio for flute, horn and piano, “Changing Light,” was released on Albany Records (2018) with Michael Robert Thornton, principal horn with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Colorado Symphony. His arrangement of Stewart Copeland’s piece, “Kaya,” was premiered at the La Jolla Summerfest (2009).

Rozé’s awards include a Meet the Composer grant, a BMI award, and three N.E.H. summer seminar stipends for studies with Leonard Stein at the Schoenberg Institute (1983), with Allen Forte at Yale (1986), and with Lewis Lockwood at Harvard (1989).

From 1979 to 1992, he was the chairperson of the Composition department at the Boston Conservatory. He holds a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School as well as a doctorate in composition from the USC Thornton School of Music.

Chris Rozé is currently an Assistant Professor of Practice in Composition and Director of Graduate Studies in Analysis at USC Thornton.


Professional experience

Career Highlights:

  • Chair, department of composition, Boston Conservatory of Music, 1979-1992
  • Conductor, Boston Conservatory Contemporary Ensemble, 1979-1992

Honors, Awards & Competitions:

  • Percussive Arts Society International Composition Contest, second prize, 2001
  • Meet the Composer Grant, 1991
  • New England League-ISCM Composition Contest, first prize, 1989
  • BMI Award in Composition, 1975

Music Festivals:

Works performed by the Boston Chamber Music Society, the Atlantic String Quartet, Earplay, Music Mobile, NuClassix, Wellesley Music Conference, Christopher Kane Guitar Duo,

Research Interests:

Three-time recipient of the NEH Summer Seminar Stipend for study with Leonard Stein at the Schoenberg Institute (1983), Allen Forte at Yale (1986), and Lewis Lockwood at Harvard (1989).

Publications:

Jitterbug/Ballad for saxophone and marimba, Alto Publications, U.K.


Academic degrees

Studied with:

Charles Wuorinen, Ursula Mamlok, Vincent Persichetti