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Frank LaRocca is an American composer of classical music, known for his choral and vocal works. He was born on August 12, 1951, in New York City, and grew up in a musical family. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a singer. LaRocca began playing the piano at a young age and showed an early interest in music. LaRocca attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied composition with Ludmila Ulehla and John Corigliano. He later earned a Ph.D. in music composition from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied with Andrew Imbrie and Olly Wilson. LaRocca's early works were influenced by the minimalist and post-minimalist styles of composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. His music often features repetitive patterns and a focus on rhythm and texture. However, he has also been influenced by the music of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, as well as by the choral traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. One of LaRocca's most notable works is his Requiem, which was commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Society and premiered in 2009. The piece is a setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead and features a large choir, soloists, and orchestra. The Requiem has been praised for its emotional depth and spiritual power. LaRocca has also written a number of other choral works, including settings of texts by poets such as Emily Dickinson and Rainer Maria Rilke. His music has been performed by a variety of ensembles, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Dale Warland Singers. In addition to his work as a composer, LaRocca has also been active as a teacher and scholar. He has taught at a number of universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, and Santa Clara University. He has also written articles and essays on music theory and composition. LaRocca's music has been praised for its beauty, emotional depth, and spiritual power. His works often explore themes of faith, love, and mortality, and are characterized by their rich harmonies and intricate textures. He is considered one of the leading composers of choral music in the United States today.

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