MJTrotta

About John Hendrix

Michael John Trotta Biography American composer Michael John Trotta (b.1978) is an acclaimed, award winning composer whose works are performed in concert and broadcast internationally, featuring a wide-ranging catalogue of works focusing on choral compositions. He recently conducted a concert of his own works at Carnegie Hall and released “Mystical Voices” his first full-length album of his own music leading Fanfare Magazine to name him, “one of the most exciting and prominent composers of choral music.” He recently relocated to New York City to complete a large-scale work for chorus and orchestra with his wife Rachel, a conummate artist and educator a living reminder of the M.C. Richards quote, “All of the arts we practice are apprenticeship. The big art is our life.” As a composer he regularly collaborates with Professional and Community Choirs, Universities, Churches, and Schools writing music that is at once innovative while remain accessible and grounded in tradition. His work has been featured at American Choral Directors regional and national conventions and he has been recognized by ASCAP for making significant contributions in the area of Concert Music. In the past year he has led performances of Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Rutter’s Requiem, in addition to conducting over two dozen other concerts featuring his own music. Prior to receiving his Doctorate from Louisiana State University, he held positions in high school, middle school, and elementary school as well as serve as director of music for numerous churches. He has served on the faculty of Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University, Rowan University, and most recently as director of Choral Studies at Virginia Wesleyan College. He has toured Europe three times and has performed in St. Peter’s Basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore (Rome), St. Mark’s (Venice), Casa Verdi (Milan) and the Santa Maria Del Fiore, the Duomo (Florence) and Carnegie Hall (New York). He has worked with Morten Lauridsen, Sir David Wilcocks, and John Rutter. His compositions include have been called “a true choral gem” (JW Pepper) and his work as a conductor has been heralded as “An Outstanding Example” (ChoralNet). In an article on ChoralNet entitled A Gateway to the Present Moment, A Connection to Something Greater Than Ourselves Trotta said: “Taking part in choral music, whether as an audience member, singer, conductor, or composer, is an opportunity to slow down time long enough to allow the beauty of life to catch up with you.”