New Music USA Online Library

American composer Robert E. Cucinotta gained recognition early in his career for his percussion and electronic music which has been performed at the Smithsonian, Merkin Hall, Bargemusic and on recitals in the U.S., Ireland and Australia.  His early work,  The sky is waiting, commissioned and premiered in 1976 by percussionist Ray Marchica was the first concert work composed for solo drum set.

Born in Brooklyn in 1949, Cucinotta studied composition, electronic and computer music at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College with Jacob Druckman, Robert Starer and Charles Dodge. He was a member of the music faculty of CUNY New York City College of Technology from 1975-1983. Performances of his concert works include those by the 21st Century Consort, Brooklyn Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, the Staten Island Symphony, guitarist David Starobin, pianist Justin Kolb, flutist Andrew Bolotowsky and percussionists Morris Lang, Larry Spivack, Jonathan Haas, Roberto Oliveira, and Gary France. 

His contributions to theater include incidental and electronic music for productions of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1997), Romeo and Juliet (2000), As You Like It (2008) and The Tempest (2010).  His recent theater work includes the music and sound design for Jules Feiffer's play, Little Murders (2010) and Dracula by Steven Deitz (2013).  His MASQUE: the Tempest was premiered at the 2015 Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice by mezzo-soprano Maria Todaro, bass Bradley Smoak and pianist Doug Martin.

Recent recordings include DIVERTIMENTO FOR MR. BROOKS (2013),  KOOOL KITCHEN (2013), DRACULA: HARKER'S JOURNAL (2014), an adaptation of the first four chapters of Bram Stoker's classic gothic novel, LIFE ON THE SCREEN (2016) and SICILIA (2018).