Richard Carrick

Richard Carrick is the Chair of Composition at Berklee College of Music and a co-founder/co-artistic director of the experimental music ensemble Either/Or. A Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award, his work spans composition, conducting, and piano performance. He has collaborated with leading ensembles such as the JACK Quartet, Nieuw Ensemble, and Sequitur Ensemble, and his music explores themes like symmetry, spatial depth, and transformation.

He holds a BA from Columbia University (1993), a PhD in Composition from the University of California-San Diego (2001), and professional diplomas from IRCAM (France) and the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague (2002). His compositions are distributed by Project Schott New York and have been performed globally, including at the ISCM World Music Days, Darmstadt Summer Festival, and Pacific Rim Festival.

Research interests emphasize multicultural influences, avant-garde techniques, and the intersection of music with multimedia. He has conducted over 200 premieres of avant-garde works, notably John Cage’s Party Pieces involving 125 international composers. His teaching spans formal academia and mentorship programs with the New York Philharmonic, focusing on student personal development and fostering unique musical voices.

Recent projects include composing a ballet for the New Chamber Ballet (The Sea, 2023) and developing teaching programs in Rwanda. He continues to explore cross-cultural fusion through works like The Mill for violin and piano, inspired by Korean Pansori traditions.