"a distinct and alert voice ... There is no denying [Lastovicka's] skill and potential ... there is a real sense of power and refined craft."
-Fanfare Magazine
Chris Lastovicka writes music dealing primarily with psychological and metaphysical subjects; much of her music can be categorized as mystical minimalism.
An excerpt from her opera Crossing the Horizon was performed by New York City Opera at their VOX 2007 festival; the opera was a finalist in the 2009 Opera Vista International Chamber Opera Competition (Houston). Chris Lastovicka wrote the score to Into Sunlight, a modern dance work that has toured the United States and will be presented at the United Nations in 2014. She is the winner of the Melodia Women's Choir of NYC 2008 Commission Competition. Her music has been performed at the Boston Early Music Festival, Merce Cunningham Studio, and in Spoleto, Italy. Her electronic work Spring was commissioned by Robin Becker Dance (NYC) for the company's 15-year anniversary. Her choral work The Shift was commissioned by the Dale Warland Singers.
Lastovicka's works have been released on the Ahari Press and Classic Concert Records (Austria) labels.
Lastovicka is the recipient of a Presser Award, and NYSCA and NYFA grants. At age 14, she became the youngest winner in the history of Chicago's Gruenstein Memorial National Organ Competition. At 15, she won the Otto B. Schoepfle National Organ Competition.
She studied composition with Samuel Adler, Frederick Bianchi, Joel Hoffman, and Allen Sapp; orchestration with Dominick Argento; and organ with Roberta Gary.
She attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music on full scholarship and graduated summa cum laude. She lives in Philmont, NY with her spouse Robin.