Alla Borzova

I am a musician of many hats: composer, conductor, pianist, organist, and singer (lyric coloratura soprano). As a composer, I was honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letter as a “force on the American musical scene”. I am the winner of several international composition competitions (including All-Union composition competition before her arrival in the U.S, and Delius International Competition) and recipient of many awards (such as the Goddard Lieberson Fellowship bestowed by the American Academy of Arts and Letters). Two compact disks of my music include the 2012 release on Naxos (“ American Classics” series) of orchestral music, recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin’s direction; and “Pinsk & Blue” (Albany Records 2007), a CD of chamber music, recorded by the Naumburg Award winning ensemble Da Capo Chamber Players and distinguished American soloists. This disk also features myself as a pianist and conductor.

As a singer, I enjoy singing solo recitals and in duo and ensemble recitals, including Borzova-Tonna Vocal Duo (with Anna Tonna, mezzo-soprano). Among my recent singing engagements are those at the National Opera Center in Manhattan, Liederkrantz Foundation, Barnard College of Columbia University and such Westchester venues as historic St. Joseph’s Church of Arimathea Episcopal Church in White Plains, Hoff-Bathelson Music School, and many others. I am Music Director (Organist/Choir Director) of historic The Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Episcopal) in Chappaqua.

I started to compose and play piano at the age of six. Music has always been my life. I have written compositions in different genres: orchestral and chamber cantatas symphony, ballet, works for choir, chamber vocal and instrumental compositions, works for piano solo, popular songs.  I favor extended forms, because they give me an opportunity to explore the subject in depth. Many themes are eternal:  human life (choral cycle When the Wind Is Blowing), love and the ability of total self-denial in the name of your beloved (solo cantata Majnun Songs), the life of an artist (choral The Ballad of Barnaby).  A special role in my output has a theme of immigration (orchestral To The New World, chamber Pinsk & Blue). 

My music is very theatrical. My work as a music director and conductor of a theatrical company and music director of a college dance program after my arrival in the U.S. deepened my interest in theatre. I have written theatrical orchestral cantata Songs for Lada; ballet -Goya drawings inspired When R eason Sleeps & Wakes: Goya Images and comic chamber opera The Wedding Gift of Pirate Granny; as well as the “musictelling” fairy tale The Animal That Drank Up Sound.  

I think that the contemporary music should be as exciting as the best music of all times has always been.  I write music for everyone who comes to a concert hall. My experience showed me that even the most technically and structurally compelling works could be understood and appreciated by the audience of mixed musical and cultural background.  I am passionate about my work, as this is what the audience feels in composer’s music.   

Each composition for me is a unique world, a universe in itself. It has its own sound, spiritual content, emotional tension, unique design, and its own tempo of creation.  I believe that composition already exists from the moment I started to think about it with a passion and intention and my task is to find the ways of bringing the piece into the world.

I am open to a variety of styles and compositional techniques.  Some of my compositions are rooted in jazz, the integral part of the American musical culture. 

I believe in both inspiration and hard work.  The individual voice of a composer is a mystery in many ways.  However, the artist in constantly changing and grows both technically and spiritually. The research is a big part of my compositional process.  It is especially important for compositions, which require a “travel” through time and space: among my compositions are Belarusian cantata Songs for Lada , Spanish ballet When Reason Sleeps and Wakes: Goya Images,  Arabic solo cantata Majnun Songs,  Jewish and multistylistic song cycle Mother Said, French piece for violin and piano Images Françaises, medieval choral work The Ballad of Barnaby.

I treasure my relationship with the performers, who are my first listeners and the link between the audience and myself. I try to write music that is interesting for performers to play. My own performing skills as a conductor, pianist, organist, and singer help me in this task. 

Dr. Borzova holds a Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate in Composition from the Moscow Conservatory. She studied Composition with Alexander Pirumov, Orchestration with Nikolai Rakov, and Yury Fortunatov, and piano with Anatoly Rozanov.  She has pursued additional doctoral studies at the City University of New York Graduate School with David Del Tredici.   Ms. Borzova started to study voice after the graduation from Moscow Conservatory, while already having a busy career as a composer. Her teachers include internationally renowned soprano Oksana Krovytska.