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Laurie Conrad is a classical pianist and composer living in Ithaca, NY. Some of her honors include: Who’s Who in American Music, The International Who’s Who in Music (Cambridge), Who's Who's in American Pianists, The International Encyclopedia of Women Composers, The Dictionary of International Biography and Marquis’ Who’s Who in America. Founded the Ithaca Contemporary Players, a chamber group devoted to the performance of Conrad's Music. Studied composition with Karel Husa and piano with George King Driscoll at Ithaca College.
Conrad is available for concerts, lecture concerts, and open rehearsals of her own works, as well as the compositions of the great classical composers of the past. Available lecture/concerts: on pieces by Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin (The Black Mass Sonata) and Debussy. Conrad also gives lecture/ concerts on her own music, contact the composer for more information.
Short List of Published Works: Song Cycles for voices and piano: Songs of Will (1976) (mezzo); Tonight the Moon (1978) (sop.); Elegies (1994) for mezzo & piano; Song cycles for voice & chamber instruments: Preludes (1982) (mezzo & bar.); The Gates of Dawn (1982) (sop. & bar.); L'Apparition (1983)(sop. & bar.) ; The Visitor (1985) (bar.); Concerto for Clarinet & Orchestra (1984, revised 1994); For Two Pianos (1983) dedicated to George King Driscoll; For solo violin: Jeux (1986), Aurore (1986); For solo Viola: Fantasie (1991), Le Printemps (1991); For solo cello: Pensees (1981). More recent works, unpublished : Chansons du Monde (revised 2003) for full orch., choir and soloists; Visions (2001), nine pieces for harp and flute; Images (2002), a cycle of six pieces for flute, harp, violin and viola; Elegie (2003) one movement for string quintet; String Quintet #2 for string quintet (2004); a cycle of six Songs for soprano and bartione voices, 2 violas, cello, harp, flute and clarinet; A cycle of three pieces for string orchestra and choir (2007): Prayer to St. Michael, to Our Lady and to the Holy Spirit, for World Peace.
Artist Mission
As a pianist I am trying to uphold the legacy of the great pianists. As a composer, I am considered very innovative, yet I am trying to continue the legacy of beauty, depth and grandeur that is music - even while using new forms, harmonies and modalities.
Music Influences
I studied compostition with Karel Husa and piano with George King Driscoll at Ithaca College. As a pianist, I was probably influenced by all the great pianists. I was a protege, and even as a child I listened to the great pianists and learned from them. As a composer, I am probably influenced by all the great composers. A good part of my training as a composer was to study and analyse the works of the great composers. I was lucky to have many fine teachers, and even as a child played professionally with fine musicians.
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