Richard Carrick

Richard Carrick is the Chair of the Composition Department at Berklee College of Music. He is a composer, conductor, pianist, and educator with affiliations to the New York Philharmonic and the experimental chamber ensemble Either/Or, which he co-founded and directs. His work spans avant-garde composition, multimedia integration, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Education:

• Professional Diploma in Electronic Production & Design, IRCAM, France (2002)
• PhD in Composition, University of California-San Diego (2001)
• MA in Composition, University of California-San Diego (1995)
• BA in Music, Columbia University (1993)

Research Interests: Carrick explores themes such as spatial depth, symmetry, and cultural fusion in his compositions. He integrates multimedia elements, improvisation, and avant-garde techniques to evoke profound human experiences. His work often bridges European and American experimental traditions, with notable engagements in Korean Gugak and Mediterranean influences.

Articles Trends: His compositions emphasize experimental chamber music, interdisciplinary collaboration (e.g., multimedia works like Prisoner's Cinema), and cross-cultural exploration. Recent works focus on extended instrumental techniques and narrative-driven structures, such as The Atlas and L'Algérie.

Awards:

• Guggenheim Fellow in Music Composition (2015–2016)
• Gugak International Fellow, South Korea (2015)
• Fromm Foundation Commission (2011)
• CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming (2015)

Grants & Mentorship: Carrick has conducted over 200 premieres of avant-garde works and mentored hundreds of composers through the New York Philharmonic's teaching artist program. His grants include the Fromm Foundation commission for String Quartet #2 - Space:Time.

Labs/Teams: Co-founder/director of Either/Or Ensemble, a group celebrated for adventurous programming and collaborations with leading ensembles worldwide. His work with the ensemble has led to premieres at festivals like ISCM World Music Days and Darmstadt.