Craig First

C. P. First (Craig P. First, born March 16, 1960) is an American composer of the avant-garde. He was born in New York City where he currently resides. Recognized primarily for his chamber music, he has also composed opera, orchestral and electronic music. His music is characterized by its taut, often disturbing drama, and carefully calculated, discordant atonal language. Biography Whilst still in his early teens, C. P. First began composing works of an experimental nature. During his primary education, he studied in New York City with Pulitzer prize-winning composer John Corigliano. First then pursued composition studies in Chicago, Illinois, where he studied at the University of Chicago with Pulitzer prize-winning composer Shulamit Ran. He earned his Masters and Doctoral degree (1990) from Northwestern University. During his years as a graduate student, First became deeply entrenched in the electronic and computer media that often reside at the core of his compositional output. Whilst an undergraduate student, First was commissioned by Charles Moore and the ACM Chamber Opera of Chicago to write the one-act opera, The Soul of Rose Dede. His work caught the attention of influential