Justin Torzala

composer, ux designer, pianist

BIO

Justin Torzala (b. 2002) is a composer, designer, and pianist based in Chicago, Illinois, originally from Appleton, Wisconsin.

He received his undergraduate degree in composition from the DePaul University School of Music. Though he has written for various instrumentations, Justin has an extensive catalog of vocal works and is an internationally recognized, award-winning choral composer. His music has been performed by The Choral Project (San Jose, CA), Vancouver Chamber Choir (Vancouver, BC), ~Nois Saxophone Quartet (Chicago, IL), Pyrenean String Quartet (Chicago, IL), DePaul University Concert Choir (Chicago, IL), Matt Ingalls and Kyle Bruckmann of sfSound, and various student performers.
His short musical theater work, Two Faces—a 2024 finalist for The American Prize in Composition—was produced and performed in 2023 at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture (Chicago, IL). As a songwriter, Justin most recently participated in the 2023 Summer Songwriters Workshop at New York University in New York City.

Justin also holds an undergraduate degree in user experience design from the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media. His design work spans museum exhibit design, book design, illustration, poster design, typography, mobile and web design, wireframing, prototyping, user research, and more.

Upcoming Events

TBA

PAST EVENTS

Ensemble 20+ @ Holtschnieder Performance Center, Gannon Concert Hall (Chicago, IL)
DePaul Concert Choir @ Holtschnieder Performance Center, Gannon Concert Hall (Chicago, IL)
Vancouver Chamber Choir’s HORIZONS @ Pacific Spirit United Church (Vancouver, BC)
SongShare @ Frederick Loewe Theatre at NYU (New York, NY)
~Nois Saxophone Quartet @ Holtschnieder Performance Center, Allen Recital Hall (Chicago, IL)
Two Faces @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture (Chicago, IL)

DePaul University Composer’s Forum @ Holtschnieder Performance Center, Allen Recital Hall (Chicago, IL)
Discoveries: Hear & Be Heard @ Holtschnieder Performance Center, Allen Recital Hall (Chicago, IL)
DePaul University Composer’s Forum @ Holtschnieder Performance Center, Allen Recital Hall (Chicago, IL)
Art of Sound: Oceans of Song @ Mission Santa Clara de Asís (Santa Clara, CA)

NEWS

11/2024 - Justin’s capstone composition, Silent Reckoning, performed in collaboration with DePaul’s Ensemble 20+ and The Theatre School at DePaul.

03/2024 - Justin’s mini-musical Two Faces nominated as a finalist for The American Prize in Composition: Opera/Theater/Film/Dance Music division.

12/2023 - Justin wins Vancouver Chamber Choir’s 16th Biennial Young Composers’ Compeitition.

08/2023 - Justin releases his first single available on streaming services, meet you in the future.

06/2023 - Justin selected to partcipate in the 2023 NYU Summer Songwriters Workshop in New York City.

11/2022 - Justin’s mini-musical Two Faces selected to participate in Blue Demon Theatre’s 2023 Short & Sweet Theatre Festival.

01/2020 - Justin wins The 2019-2020 Rachel Moore Choral Composition Competition.

Connect with me

Contact

Resumé

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