Michael Rothkopf

Michael S. Rothkopf is a composer of over 40 works of chamber, electronic, orchestral and vocal music.  His compositions have been noted for their "remarkable sensuousness" and their evocative ability to create a "sense of time and occasion." Recent works have focused on creating interactive music involving digital technology and artificial intelligence as part of the compositional design.  Published by American Composers Editions, his music has been performed throughout the United States by notable musicians and ensembles such as Ulrich Eichenauer, Tara Helen O'Connor, William Anderson, Jean Kopperud, Debra Reuter-Pivetta, Theresa Radomski, Brooks Whitehouse, the Cygnus Ensemble and the NOA Orchestra.  He has been awarded fellowships from Yaddo, Carnegie Hall, the National Orchestra Association and Columbia University. 

With Master of Arts and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Columbia University, his principal composition teachers have been Normand Lockwood and Mario Davidovsky.  His formal studies also include composition with Jack Beeson, Susan Blaustein, George Edwards and Chou Wen-Chung, counterpoint and analysis with Jacques-Louis Monod and double bass with Harry Safstrom.  

Dr. Rothkopf is currently the assistant dean of graduate programs at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts - School of Music where he teaches composition, graduate and undergraduate music technology and graduate music history, theory review, and career strategies courses.  He was a founding member of JOLT (Journal for Online Learning and Teaching) and currently serves on its senior editorial board.

Dr. Rothkopf served as the interim dean of music at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts from 2008 to 2010 and president of the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival from 2005 to 2008.  He was a founding member and served as the lead editor on the music editorial board of MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Online Teaching) from 2000 to 2006.  His past teaching appointments have included Columbia University, Yeshiva University and Stern College.  He served as music director of the Ariel Contemporary Chamber Ensemble from 1982 to 1986 and as executive director of the League of Composers/International Society for Contemporary Music U.S. Section from 1989 to 1991.