Biography Compositions 2009/10 Performances Contact Information

FRANK LA ROCCA - Composer
_________________________________

FRANK LA ROCCA (born 1951 in New Jersey) was educated at Yale (B.A. 1973, cum laude) and the University of California at Berkeley (M.A. 1976, Ph.D 1981 in Music). His early experiences in music ranged from the study of classical piano to playing electric keyboards in a variety of rock and blues bands. He began composing at age 14 and first undertook formal studies in composition and theory while at Yale. His teachers include Edwin Dugger, Andrew Imbrie, Olly Wilson, Jonathan Kramer, Frank Lewin, and John Mauceri.  

He is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2010 Vanguard Premieres International Choral Composition Award and winner of Second Prize in the 2010 International Sacred Arts Composer Competition, as well as the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship, a California State Artist Fellowship, ASCAP Young Composer's Award, Special Commendations in the ASCAP/Nissim Orchestral Competition and Amherst Choral Competition, and honorable mentions in the 2005 Meistersingers and Vanguard Voices competitions. He is a featured composer in the registry of the Foundation for Sacred Arts and has been recognized on three occasions for Outstanding Merit as a Professor of Music at California State University, East Bay.

Notable recent performances include Echo at the 7th World Symposium on Choral Music in Kyoto, Japan by the San Francisco Girls Chorus; Expectavi Dominum in the Cathedral at Aarschot, Belgium; In This Place at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and O Magnum Mysterium by the Grammy-Award winning Cathedral Choral Society at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Overseas premieres of O Magnum Mysterium and Magnificat in the UK, Exaudi in Brazil, Miserere in Portugal, Sicut Cervus in France, O Nata Lux in Germany and Cantate Domino in Prague have all recently been heard. 

La Rocca's music has been recorded by Artist's Vocal Ensemble (AVE), the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Vanguard Voices, Prague Radio Orchestra and Chorus, the Alexander String Quartet, cellist Lawrence Granger and the trio, Strata, among others. He is published by Boosey&Hawkes, Walton Music and Santa Barbara Music Publishers.

A founding member, past Executive Director and current Artistic Director of COMPOSERS, INC., La Rocca teaches at California State University, East Bay, where he is Emeritus Professor of Music.

Return to the top

CHORAL - VOCAL WORKS
____________________

Missa Cordi Sacro (2010) for SAB Choir and Organ. 15 min

Iam Lucis Orto Sidere (2010) for SSAA a capella. 6 min

Credo (2009) for SATB a capella. 11 min

To a Young Child (2009) for Baritone and Piano. 4 min

O Sacrum Convivium (2009) for SATB a capella. 4.5 min

Ave Maria (2009) for SATB a capella. 4.5 min

The Divine Image (2008) for SSAATTBB a capella. 5 min Listen!

Ave Verum Corpus (2008) for SATB a capella. 4.5 min
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Hallelujah! (2007) for SATB Choir, Organ and optional brass.  2 min Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

O Eve! (2007) for SATB Choir. 4 min - also available in SSAA. Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

O Eve! (2007) version for SSAA a capella. 4 min Listen!
*** to purchase the score, click here ***
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Cantate Domino (2006) for SATB Choir and Orchestra  6 min Listen!

Sicut Cervus (2005) for SATB Choir.  5 min Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Birthday Canons (2005) for any four voices.  1 min

Into Your Hands (2005) for SATB choir plus optional keyboard accompaniment.  4 min

Resurrection Prelude (2005) for SATB choir, Organ, Brass and Timpani.  2 min Listen! MIDI file
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

O Nata Lux (2005) for SATB choir and String Orchestra.  7 min Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Miserere (2004) for SATB choir.  7 min Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Echo (2004) for women's choir.  6 min Listen! • commissioned by San Francisco Girls Chorus
*** to purchase the CD, click here***

Cantate Domino (2004) for SATB choir and Organ.  6 min

O Magnum Mysterium (2003) for SATB choir.  7 min Listen!
*** to purchase the score, click here ***
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Ubi Caritas (2003) for SATB choir.  5 min Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

O Vos Omnes (2003) for SATB choir.  8 min Listen!

Eli, Eli! (2003) for SATB choir and organ.  7 min Listen!

Magnificat (2002) for women's chamber choir.  8 min Listen!
*** to purchase the score, click here ***
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Expectavi Dominum (2001) for mixed choir.  6 min  Listen!
*** to purchase the score, click here ***
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

Veni Sancte Spiritus (2001) for sop, cl, stg qt.  10 min  Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

In the Beginning (2000) for mixed choir.  7 min 

Exaudi (1998) for mixed choir.  8 min  Listen!
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

• Recorded on Capstone CD 8674

Psalm 23 (2002) for SATB choir.  4 min Listen!

CHAMBER INSTRUMENTAL WORKS
__________________________

In This Place (2000) for clar, vln and piano.  10 min   Listen!

• commissioned by STRATA

FourPlay (1997) for string quartet.  5 min

Meditation (1991) piano solo. 3 min  Listen! • commissioned by Fallen Leaf Press

Divertimento (1990) for two pianos.  6 min Listen!

Secret Thoughts (1986) for unaccompanied cello.  10 min  Listen!
• commissioned by Lawrence Granger • Recorded on CRI SD 567

Frammenti (1983) for piano solo. 7 min Listen! • commissioned by Ellen Wassermann.

Duo Lirico (1982) for violin and viola. 4 min

String Trio (1981) for violin, viola and cello. 16 min  Listen! • Recorded on CRI SD 567

Fantasy for Violin and Piano (1979). 7 min

Phoenix (1976) for clarinet, string quartet, piano and percussion. 12 min

Night Music (1975) for violin and piano. 8 min

CHAMBER CHORAL-VOCAL WORKS
__________________________

In a Dark Time (1989) for SATB chorus and chamber ensemble. 14 min  Listen!

The Pure Fury (1988) for tenor and large chamber ensemble. 20 min

Canti d'Innocenza (1984) for soprano, clarinet, harp, and vibraphone. 12 min  
• Recorded on CRS 8944.

ORCHESTRAL WORKS
_________________

Veni Sancte Spiritus (2001) for sop, clar and String orchestra.  10 min

While Orpheus Dreamed (1998) for orchestra.  13 min  Listen!

The Right Road Lost (1996) for large orchestra. 14 min

Crossing the Rubicon (1994) for orchestra.  13 min Listen!
• commissioned by the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra.

________ (1993) version for chamber orchestra; for the San Francisco Conservatory New Music Ensemble.

No Strings (1993) for symphonic band. 4 min  Listen!
• commissioned by Prof. Timothy Smith for the 1994 California Band Directors Association All-State Honor Band Conference • Recorded on ME Digital Recordings CD Vol. 6
*** to browse the score as you listen, click here ***

The Pure Fury (1989) for tenor and chamber orchestra. 20 min • commissioned by the Ohlone Chamber Orchestra

Chen (1977) Prologue for Orchestra. 2 min

ELECTRONIC - FILM WORKS
_____________________

Labyrinth (1977) for electronic tape. 6 min

Newsical Muse (1975) contributions to a work by Neil B. Rolnick, principal composer. Live radio theater piece. 60 min

Emergency (1974) music for documentary film. 30 min.

Krystallos (1973) music for documentary film. 30 min.

Return to the top

e-mail: compozor@mac.com