Kurt Rohde

Kurt Rohde is a Professor of Music at the University of California, Davis, where he serves as a faculty composer. He is also composer-in-residence with Southwest Chamber Music in Pasadena, California, and has participated in international cultural exchange programs such as the U.S. State Department's Ascending Dragon initiative in Vietnam.

• University: University of California, Davis
• School: College of Letters and Science
• Department: Department of Music
• Role: Professor of Music, Faculty Composer
• Residency: Southwest Chamber Music, Pasadena

Rohde’s research and creative work centers on contemporary classical composition, with deep engagement in form, repetition, narrative, and interdisciplinary collaboration. His music often draws from poetry and philosophical texts, exploring emotional and structural complexity through innovative orchestration and formal experimentation. He is particularly interested in how repetition can disorient, transform, and create new sonic pathways.

His recent works, including seeking all that's still unsung (2024), The Hardest Folksongs Never Written (2023), and circling/revealing (2022), reflect a consistent exploration of fractured forms, recursive structures, and hybrid genres. These compositions span solo, chamber, vocal, and large ensemble formats, often incorporating electronics and text. His work has been commissioned by ensembles like the Lydian Quartet and supported by Chamber Music America and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

• Commission from Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program
• Funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Rohde actively collaborates with performers and ensembles such as the Grossman Ensemble, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, and Brooklyn Art Song Society. He mentors emerging musicians and emphasizes inclusivity and belonging in programming. He has no formal PhD or Master’s advisees listed, but his works are frequently performed by dedicated ensembles and soloists. He leads creative projects such as Newtown Odyssey, an open-air opera centered on environmental and social themes.