Artist description Amy Scurria is one of the youngest composers published by Theodore Presser Company. An American composer born in 1973, Ms Scurria grew up singing in church choirs and with madrigal groups. She began teaching herself piano as well as the basics of writing music by the age of eight. Her serious study of piano began at eleven and, soon after, she had written several pieces for solo piano. By the age of seventeen, she had been the recipient of several piano performance awards and was a winner of the 1991 Northern Virginia Composition Competition. Ms Scurria earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition from The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston. Her music was performed frequently at Rice University and was highlighted at a concert for a national conference celebrating Women in the Arts in 1995. Her music was also performed at the Aspen Music Festival in 1994. Ms Scurria earned a Masters Degree in Music Composition from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at the Johns Hopkins University. She studied under Chen Yi and enjoyed the honor of being the only student of Robert Sirota, the Director of the Peabody Institute. In the summer of 1999, Ms Scurria was awarded a scholarship to attend La Schola Cantorum in Paris, France where she studied with Narcis Bonet, Samuel Adler, and Philip Lasser. A Prayer (published by Theodore Presser) for SATB choir a cappella was composed during her stay in Paris. Since its publication in May, A Prayer has already sold over 500 copies worldwide. Ms. Scurria believes that "Music is a powerful and unusual language that, when spoken well, can reach the deepest part of the human spirit."

Music Style American, classical concert music. Beautiful, lush, and simply honest music.

Musical Influences Copland, Barber, Chopin, Brahms.

Similar Artists Copland, Barber

Instruments Piano, choral, voice and piano, orchestral, ensemble.

Albums Amy Scurria Piano Compositions; Amy Scurria Compositions 1991-1998

Press Reviews "Ms. Scurria is a young composer to watch. Here in her first Presser publication is a powerful choral statement. Listen, and be changed." - Theodore Presser Company<A HREF="http://www.newmusicbox.org/first-person/feb00/part6.html" TARGET="_new">Interview with Tom Broido and Arnold Broido</A><A HREF="schwartz.htm" TARGET="_new">Review by Steve Schwartz (Classical Net Review)</A>

Additional Info Sheet music may be purchased at Theodore Presser Co. or through the composer

Location Bryn Mawr, PA - USA

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