# Scott Perkins > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Scott_Perkins > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Scott_Perkins.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Perkins > Source revision: 1351112704 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Justin Scott Perkins** (born June 25, 1980) is an international prize-winning [composer](/source/Composer) of [vocal music](/source/Vocal_music), an award-winning [scholar](/source/Scholar), and a professor at [California State University, Sacramento](/source/California_State_University,_Sacramento).[1] Until 2020, Perkins wrote a balance of [sacred](/source/Religious_music) and [secular music](/source/Secular_music). Notable works include *A Word Out of The Sea* (2003, winner of a [BMI Student Composer Award](/source/BMI_Student_Composer_Award)[2]), *The Stolen Child* (2006), *Charon* (2012; libretto by [Nat Cassidy](/source/Nat_Cassidy); commissioned by the Kennedy Center and Washington National Opera[3]), and *A New England Requiem* (2016).[4] Since 2020, Perkins's music has been mostly extended, [secular](/source/Secularity), [choral](/source/Choir) works that support and illuminate the words of contemporary authors on themes of [social justice](/source/Social_justice), [environmentalism](/source/Environmentalism), and [mental health](/source/Mental_health). His style can be characterized by its [lyricism](/source/Lyricism), [modal](/source/Modal_music) influences, tonal centricity, and [metric](/source/Metre_(music)) flexibility. [Benjamin Britten](/source/Benjamin_Britten), [Thomas Tallis](/source/Thomas_Tallis), [Sigur Rós](/source/Sigur_R%C3%B3s), [Arvo Pärt](/source/Arvo_P%C3%A4rt), and [Samuel Barber](/source/Samuel_Barber) have influenced the techniques and sound of some of his music.[5] Notable works include *Alive Poems* (2020) and *A Map to the Next World* (2023). ## Early life and education Perkins grew up in [Bristol, Connecticut](/source/Bristol,_Connecticut). He began composing at the age of five, studied composition at [The Hartt School](/source/University_of_Hartford_Hartt_School) Community Division at age twelve, and won his first competition at 14, resulting in a premiere by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from [Bristol Central High School](/source/Bristol_Central_High_School) in 1998. Perkins studied music theory and composition with Martin Amlin, Richard Cornell, Charles Fussell, and [Marjorie Merryman](/source/Marjorie_Merryman) at the [Boston University College of Fine Arts](/source/Boston_University_College_of_Fine_Arts). He minored in vocal performance; his voice teachers were William Hite and Joy McIntyre. He won several departmental awards and prizes, and he graduated with highest honors in 2002. He pursued graduate studies at the [Eastman School of Music](/source/Eastman_School_of_Music), earning master's degrees in Music Theory Pedagogy and Music Theory, and a PhD in Composition. His composition teachers were [Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon](/source/Ricardo_Zohn-Muldoon) and [Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez](/source/Carlos_Sanchez-Gutierrez).[6] ## Career Perkins's career has comprised composing, teaching, research, and concertizing as a [tenor](/source/Tenor). In 2011, he scored Sir [Peter Shaffer](/source/Peter_Shaffer)’s play, ‘’The Gift of the Gorgon’’ in collaboration with the playwright. The play was performed at Guild Hall in [East Hampton, New York](/source/East_Hampton,_New_York), starring [Alec Baldwin](/source/Alec_Baldwin) and directed by [Tony Walton](/source/Tony_Walton). In 2017, Perkins joined the faculty of California State University, Sacramento, where he is Head of Music Theory and Musicianship. Previously, he served on the faculties of [Nazareth College](/source/Nazareth_College_(New_York)), [Central Connecticut State University](/source/Central_Connecticut_State_University), the [Interlochen Arts Camp](/source/Interlochen_Center_for_the_Arts) (as Instructor of Choral Studies), and [DePauw University](/source/DePauw_University).[1] Perkins has presented on: the integration of Western and non-Western music in musicianship curricula at conferences of the College Music Society and the Society of Arts Entrepreneurship Educators; teaching music-reading skills to amateur choirs at a convention of the [American Guild of Organists](/source/American_Guild_of_Organists) at [Yale University](/source/Yale_University); and 17th-century lute song performance practice at the [University of Chicago](/source/University_of_Chicago). He gave the keynote address and a paper on the history and reception of [Olivier Messiaen](/source/Olivier_Messiaen)’s work in the United States as part of the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the premiere of the *[Quartet for the End of Time](/source/Quatuor_pour_la_fin_du_temps)* in Zgorzelec, Poland. His work on the music of Benjamin Britten was awarded a prize by the New York State-St. Lawrence Chapter of the [American Musicological Society](/source/American_Musicological_Society). He has been an invited guest lecturer on his music and research at [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University), The Hartt School, Boston University, and the [University of the Pacific](/source/University_of_the_Pacific_(United_States)).[1] Perkins has concertized as a tenor specializing in early and modern Western classical music throughout the United States, England, Mexico, Scotland, and Norway. He has performed with numerous professional ensembles as both a vocalist and a conductor, and he is a featured soloist on CDs produced by [Bridge Records](/source/Bridge_Records) and Loft Recordings.[1] ## References 1. ["Scott Perkins, Head of Music Theory and Musicianship | Sacramento State"](https://www.csus.edu/faculty/p/perkins/). *www.csus.edu*. Retrieved 2024-01-09. 1. Staff, NewMusicBox (2004-07-02). ["52nd Annual BMI Student Composer Award Winners - New Music USA"](https://newmusicusa.org/nmbx/52nd-annual-bmi-student-composer-award-winners/,%20https://newmusicusa.org/nmbx/52nd-annual-bmi-student-composer-award-winners/). *newmusicusa.org*. Retrieved 2024-01-09. 1. ["Charon | New Play Exchange"](https://newplayexchange.org/plays/112828/charon). *newplayexchange.org*. Retrieved 2024-01-09. 1. Graves, Ralph (2020-05-05). ["Scott Perkins - A New England Requiem a new masterwork"](https://www.wtju.net/scott-perkins-new-england-requiem-new-masterwork/). *WTJU 91.1 FM*. Retrieved 2024-01-09. 1. ["Scott Perkins - About Scott"](https://www.scott-perkins.com/about). *Scott Perkins*. Retrieved 2024-01-09. 1. ["Alumni - Eastman School of Music"](https://www.esm.rochester.edu/theory/alumni/). 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2024-01-09. ## External links - [Scott Perkins's webpage](http://www.scott-perkins.com/) - [Scott Perkins: Sacramento State University Faculty Page](http://www.csus.edu/music/faculty/perkins.html/) - [Scott Perkins's Album "The Stolen Child"](http://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6067/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Scott Perkins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Perkins) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Perkins?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.