Born in Putnam, Connecticut on November 4th, 1985, I did not begin my music career until 5th grade. My study of music began with the French Horn as a member of the school band. In 7th grade (at the age of 13) I began to compose and play the piano independently until in 9th grade (15) my school's music directors (Noveline Beltram, Maryrose Kristopak) sought to find me a private teacher.
I studied piano and French Horn throughout high school and also joined a few choirs. In 2003 I received 3rd place in the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's Young Composer Competition and was a member of the 2003 All-State Choir.
In 2004 I began my studies at the University of Kansas. I studied with Dr. Charles Hoag and James Barnes respectively. I put aside my French Horn for the sake of improving my piano abilities and studied with Nathanael May. In 2006 I received a research grant to study abroad in Russia and was also simultaneously selected for performance in the Cortona Contemporary Music Festival (now the SoundScape Festival in Italy). I met Dr. Kathryn Fouse through this festival where she performed two movements from my Titus Andronicus piano cycle. It was so well received that she encouraged me to complete the cycle and has remained its greatest champion since.
I graduated from the University of Kansas in 2008 with a Bachelor degree in music composition. In 2009 I returned to the Cortona Contemporary Music Festival this time under the name of SoundSCAPE Music Festival in Pavia, Italy. I am always composing new music, editing old music, and constantly attempting to promote my music. If you are interested in performing any of my music or commissioning a piece, please contact me at: paulszpyrka@msn.com.