Bio

Blake Ragghianti has studied music composition and piano performance for over twenty years. His extensive travels have been a primary inspiration and influence in his compositional style, inspiring a collection of works that blend aspects of an array of genres and cultures. He is currently a composer in residence at the Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra and a Founding Executive/Artistic Director of OvreArts, a Pittsburgh based non-profit dedicated to uniting successful, young arts organizations and gifted individuals in the Pittsburgh community by creating pioneering works of art in a collaborative and collegial atmosphere.

In December of 2008 Blake composed the music for Glenn Beck’s hit broadway play “The Christmas Sweater,” now available on DVD. More recently, he was commissioned by Brady Allred, the University of Utah Singers and the Salt Lake City Choral Artists to compose a major work for orchestra and choir.

Other recent projects include twelve new chamber works, the ballet miniature “Orchids,” sound design and orchestration consultation for the indie horror film “12/24”, and the production and composition of a major contemporary ballet, “Infinity” (Premier scheduled for 2012).

(Music Philosophy, Conducting, Choral Studies, Voice), Robert Page (Voice, Conducting), Nancy Galbraith (Composition), Bill Purse (Technology), Ken Burkey (Piano Performance), Harry Coleman (Piano Performance and Pedagogy). Blake was recently chosen as a Finalist of the prestigious 2011 International Music Award for Excellence in Composition. He is an extremely active participant in the vibrant live arts community of his home town Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which he affectionately calls the “Paris of Appalachia.”

Blake Ragghianti, composer

“ The artists and shamans are one - healers and priests - rectifiers of aesthetic gone askew. Without them we would have no map home. ”

Bio

Blake earned a BFA in Music Composition from Carnegie Mellon University, studied Music Education and Technology and Piano Performance at Duquesne University and holds an Honorary Diploma in Music Composition from the National Academy of Music in
Skyies, Greece. Honored musical mentors include Amanda Ford (Composition, Eurhythmics, and Music Philosophy ), Dr. Brady Allred