Nick Raspa

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Nick Raspa (b. 1955) resides at 5108 Bayberry Lane, Tamarac, Florida, 33319. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Catholic University of America and studied music composition privately, in New York City, with Fulbright scholar and Pulitzer Prize nominee, Frank Retzel, Ph.D. Raspa is an active composer of contemporary music and has had many works selected, through competition, for performance both in the United States and Europe.

In 1988, Raspa’s work, “Three Poems for Soprano Voice and Piano”, a setting of three poems by Emily Dickinson, was selected for performance at the University of Wisconsin New Music Festival. The same work was selected for performance at the regional meeting of the Society of Composers, Inc. “Three Poems for Soprano Voice and Piano” has also been selected for inclusion in the Archives and Manuscript Division of the New York City Public Library.

In 1992, The Audubon Symphony Orchestra premiered Raspa’s orchestral work, “Renewal”. In 1994, Raspa’s solo piano piece, “Dawning” was selected for a world premiere on Belgrade Television. “Dawning” has also been selected for inclusion in the Archives and Manuscript Division of the New York City Public Library.

In 1999, Raspa’s solo piano work, “Spooky Waltz” was selected for performance at the ppIANISSIMO New Music Festival, Sofia, Bulgaria. Also in 1999, Raspa was commissioned to write a piece for string quartet based on the original hymn, Silent Night. The new piece, “Essay on Silent Night”, received a 1999 premiere in Lancaster, Pa.

In 2005, two of Raspa’s pieces for string orchestra were selected for performance at the Living Composer’s Concert held in Glendale, Wisconsin. Those two pieces were “Bagatelle No. 1” and “On The Lake”.

In 2012, Raspa’s trio work, “Dimension 20, Regeneration” was selected for performance in the program, "Access Contemporary Music" and performed in Chicago by members of the contemporary music ensemble "Anaphora". That program was broadcast over the Internet.

Raspa’s educational music for the piano has received excellent reviews in the music trade journal, Clavier. His educational music for the string orchestra has received excellent reviews in The American String Teacher Journal.

In addition to Raspa’s compositional activities, he was also the founding conductor of the Audubon Symphony Orchestra, located near Philadelphia, PA. Raspa was the music director and conductor until moving from Pennsylvania in 1993.

Raspa also taught music privately for more than 25 years in Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Raspa also served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota River Valley Music Teachers Association. The last three years, prior to moving back to the east coast, he served as President of that organization. Raspa was also a member of the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum and served as state/national liaison for that group. Raspa is a freelance composer and has a number of works listed with various digital music publishers.

Raspa is also a freelance pianist performing locally in the South Florida area. He is a member of the Society of Composers, Inc. and The American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers.

Works selected for performance through national and international competition

  • Three Poems for Soprano Voice & Piano - Univ. of Wisconsin New Music Festival 1988  (this piece is now included in the Archives and Manuscript Division of the NYC Public Library)
  • Dawning (piano) Television Belgrade, Yugoslavia 1994 (this piece is now included in the Archives and Manuscript Division of the NYC Public Library)
  • Spooky Waltz (piano) ppIANISSIMO New Music Festival, Sofia, Bulgaria 1999 
  • Bagatelle No.1 (string orch) Living Composer Concert, Wisconsin 2005 
  • On The Lake (str. orch) Living Composer Concert, Wisconsin 2005  =Other performances
  • Renewal (full orch) Audubon Symphony Orchestra Audubon, PA 1992
  • Essay on Silent Night (str. quartet) Lancaster, PA 1999 
  • Dimension 20 (mixed ensemble) Chicago 2012

Music Reviews

American String Teacher Journal

  • August 1999 - Bagatelle No. 1
  • November 1999 - Essay on Silent Night
  • August 2000 - The Kerry Dance
  • August 2000 – Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, That’s an Irish Lullaby
  • February 2001 - Menuetto from Piano Sonata No.1 Op. 49 No. 2  
  • November 2001 - On The Lake

Clavier

  • May/June 2005 - Six Etudes for Hand over Hand Arpeggio
  • September 2005 - My Very First Waltz
  • September 2005 - I Think I Hear an Echo
  • October 2005 - O Christmas Tree
  • October 2005 - Essay on Silent Night II
  • November 2006 - Christmas Swings
  • September/October 2016 - O Holy Night
  • September/October 2016 - Greensleeves

Score catalogue

Amazing Grace (Trombone & Piano) - Solo Trombone + piano
Amazing Grace (Horn in F & Piano) - Solo Horn in F + piano
Amazing Grace - Cello & Piano duet - Solo Violoncello + piano
Amazing Grace - Viola & Piano duet - Solo Solo Viola + piano
Amazing Grace - Violin & Piano - Solo Solo Violin + piano
All Through The Night (Alto Sax & Piano) - Solo Alto Saxophone + piano
All Through The Night (Tenor Sax & Piano) - Solo Tenor Saxophone + piano
Amazing Grace - Flute & Piano - Solo Flute + piano
Amazing Grace - Oboe & Piano - Solo Oboe + piano
Amazing Grace - Piano & B Flat Clarinet - Solo Clarinet in Bb + piano
Amazing Grace - Alto Sax and piano - Solo Alto Saxophone + piano
Amazing Grace - Tenor Sax and piano - Solo Tenor Saxophone + piano
A Happy Day - Elementary Piano - Solo instrument (Piano)
Fur Elise - Solo instrument (Piano)
Lost in the Woods (elementary piano) - Solo instrument (Piano)
March of the Dragons - Elementary Piano - Solo instrument (Piano)
My Very First Waltz - Elementary Piano - Solo instrument (Piano)
Away in a Manger - (adv. int.) - Solo instrument (Piano)
Away in a Manger - advanced piano - Solo instrument (Piano)
L001 Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral - Orchestra + solo Viola
Wandering Gnomes - String orchestra