Steven Sérpa

Austin-based composer, Steven Sérpa, is an award-winning composer of opera, choral, orchestral, and chamber music. His works have been performed by ensembles including the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, Density512, Osmose Festival, and Ensamble Rosario. In 2022, he was selected by the American Composers Orchestra for its EarShot Composer Fellowship.

​

Steven’s music centers around storytelling and collaboration, particularly through the human voice. His operas and vocal works have been performed across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The chamber opera these wings are meant to fly, written in response to the Pulse nightclub shooting, received performances in Chicago, Montréal, Hartford, Austin, and Mexico City. His dramatic oratorio james (book of ruth), created with playwright Zac Kline, explores HIV/AIDS stigma, grief, love, and chosen family. Recent projects include commissions and performances for the Grand Teton Music Festival, Juventas New Music Ensemble, soprano Hilá Plitmann, Opéra Queens, Here Be Monsters, One Ounce Opera, Panoramic Voices, and Inversion Ensemble.

​

Before focusing on composition, Steven studied vocal performance and early music as a countertenor. He continues to be a frequent vocalist in Austin music ensembles like Texas Early Music Project, Austin Baroque Orchestra, Inversion Ensemble, and Panoramic Voices. He is also a producer and stage manager, having co-directed organizations Fast Forward Austin and Tetractys New Music, with whom he helped found Austin's annual indie-classical music festival Here Be Monsters.

​

Steven is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin earning his doctorate in music composition and holds degrees from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford, Longy School of Music, and the University of Rhode Island. He studied composition with Tom Cipullo, Larry Alan Smith, Stephen Gryč, Donald Grantham, Yevgeniy Sharlat, and Dan Welcher.

​

Steven makes his home just east of Austin, TX with his partner on their homestead, with their rescue dogs, barn cats, vegetable gardens, and  honeybees.