Amy Scurria knew at a very young age that music would
hold a prominent position in her life. She began composing as early as
eight years old pursuing study and competition in piano and
composition. After winning various piano and composition contests, she
went on to study composition at the Westminster Choir College Summer
Program in Princeton, NJ, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University
(B.M.), Aspen Music Festival, Peabody Conservatory (M.M.), La Schola
Cantorum in Paris, France, and is currently pursuing a PhD at Duke
University. Notable teachers have included Chen Yi, Robert Sirota,
Narcis Bonet, Anthony Kelley, and Stephen Jaffe. Scurria has been
commissioned and performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota
Orchestra, LongLeaf Opera, Sigma Alpha Iota and Fort Wayne Philharmonic,
the Vermont Youth Orchestra, Youth Pro Musica, the Shepherd College
Concert Choir, and many others. She has had performances throughout the
U.S., England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, France, and Japan. Scurria’s
music is currently moving towards the creation of opera, however, her
music (non-vocal included) has always included a background narrative or
story.
She believes that “Music is a powerful and
unusual language that, when spoken well, can reach the deepest part of
the human spirit.” She continues to strive for that end.