Asha Srinivasan

... is an Indian-American composer and Assistant Professor of Music (Theory/Composition/Electronic Music) at Lawrence University, Appleton, WI.

I have been involved with music since my early childhood in India. My extended family on both of my parents' sides are musical. My mother Lalitha is currently a professional singer of Indian film songs and sings all over the U.S. When I was in India, at age 6, I started taking vocal lessons in Carnatic music (the classical music of Southern India).

After moving to the U.S., I was introduced to Western classical music through the public school system. In high school, I had the opportunity to take my first Music Theory class. What was supposed to be theoretical part-writing exercises turned into compositional experiments for me and thus sparked my passion for creating music. I am enthralled by the possibilities of integrating aspects of the Carnatic style into the Western music idiom. Thus, I draw from my Western musical training and my Indian heritage to create my compositional language.

In 2006, I was named the winner of the BMI Foundation's first Annual Women's New Music Commission Competition. Other credits include the Flute/Cello Commissioning Circle call for scores, the Walsum competition, the Prix d'Ete competitions, and ASCAPlus Awards. I have had electronic pieces performed at ICMC, June in Buffalo, SEAMUS, Spark, Electroacoustic Juke Joint, Electronic Music Midwest, and The Women in New Music Festival. I have been commissioned by the Flute/Cello Commissioning Circle, Sequoia Chamber Players, clarinetist E. Michael Richards, among others. My original electro-acoustic opera, The Fallen Nutcracker, was premiered by Landless Theatre Company in Washington, D.C for a run of sixteen performances in 2003.

Education and degrees:
D.M.A. in Composition, University of Maryland, College Park (Dr. Robert Gibson)
M.Mus. in Computer Music Composition and M.Mus. in Music Theory Pedagogy, Peabody Conservatory (Dr. Greg Boyle, Dr. Geoff Wright, and Dr. Paul Mathews)
B.A. in Music (emphasis in Theory/Composition, Computer Music, and Arts Administration) (Dr. Kendall Kennison)

Curriculum Vitae (updated July 2010): Asha_Srinivasan_CV_Web.pdf
P/R material: Short biography (.doc)

Please visit the Composition Blog for more details on Lawrence University's composition program.