Richard L. Ortiz - Composer profile picture

Richard L. Ortiz - Composer

Play lots of new music!!!

About Me

Richard L. Ortiz is a Chicago-land composer, guitarist, and music typesetter (printing out sheet music for people that have handwritten music). Rich earned a BM in composition from Valparaiso University where he studied with Dr. Dennis Friesen-Carper and an MM in composition from the Chicago College of Performing Arts where he studied wth Dr. Stacy Garrop. Rich's music has been called fresh and exciting and he has recieved several honors, awards, and commissions. In his compositions, Rich hopes to find that happy medium between metal, punk, electronica and orchestral music writing within the chamber music setting.

Rich has also been playing guitar for nearly two decades experimenting with many genres including punk, metal, grindcore, hardcore, classic rock, blues, jazz and latin with a focused study of classical guitar throughout his undergrad and graduate schooling. All these genres inspire and influence Rich's compositions while he strives to create a unique voice.
I am interested in connecting and working with 'new music' performers, theatre, dance, and film people. If you are interested in anything on this site or my main homepage www.rlomusic.com , or have ideas for a new project, please contact me.
For all you classical music peoples, check out ClassicalLounge.com . It's kind of like Myspace, but for classical music people. You can hit my profile at www.classicallounge.com/rlom
And in case you were wondering what kind of rocker I am:
You Are an Indie Rocker!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/11/2006
Band Website: rlomusic.com
Band Members: Richard L. Ortiz
Influences: Aphex Twin
Skinny Puppy
Einsturzende Neubauten
RevCo
Ministry
Fugazi
S.O.D.
Haujobb
Misfits
Minor Threat
Slayer
Fear Factory
The Exploited
The Accused
Nuclear Assault
Beethoven
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Tarrega
Dmitri Shostakovich
George Crumb
Chen Yi
Julia Wolfe
Alfred Schnittke
Henry Cowell
Bang on a Can
Steve Reich
Philip Glass
John Adams
Danny Elfman
John King
David Lang

Sounds Like: Modern classically trained musicians playing my music.

Here are some videos of a recital that featured my piece Three For Five. It was commissioned by the music faculty of the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts. The work was premiered by the music faculty on June 19, 2007 at Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. I was honored to have such a great ensemble to work with.

Three For Five - I

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Three For Five - II

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Three For Five - III

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Type of Label: None

My Blog

So I'm playing this gig...

Time to vent...As I was saying, I'm playing this gig earlier tonight, ok?  I was hired to play 2 hours solo guitar.  They asked that I play mostly jazz and blues and maybe a little 'flamingo...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Sun, 08 Jul 2007 10:47:00 PST

Back from GSA

So I am back from the GSA experience.  It's a pretty neat little program they have down there.  They have about 220 high school juniors and seniors from all over Kentucky hanging out at Tran...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 12:09:00 PST

Off to GSA to hear a piece

So through Myspace I got a commission from the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts summer program. It's for an interesting ensemble: clarinet, trumpet, viola, percussion, and piano. I leave tomor...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:31:00 PST

Chanson Du Soir

So the myspace torch blazes on.  Through myspace I have been able to 'meet' lots of new folks doing some interesting things.  One such group has been Chanson du Soir, a classical guitar/voic...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Sun, 04 Mar 2007 09:26:00 PST

slight obsession...

Generally, musicians that are promoting their wares use their blogs to talk about what is happening musically.  Being that I am trying to be a composer, I thought i'd write about a slight obsessi...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:23:00 PST

The Death of CBGB...

So I just read that CBGB, the home of punk rock in america, is closing its doors after 33 years over a tenant-landlord dispute.  I guess the lease was up and the lessor didn't want to renew. ...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Sat, 14 Oct 2006 08:38:00 PST

Bohemian Rhapsody part 2

Last month I had the opportunity to perform Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody on the electric guitar with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra.  It turned out to be a great networking opportunity for...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 09:14:00 PST

Duo 46 Composer Workshop...

So last week, I did a composer workshop in St. Paul, MN with the guitar/violin duet Duo 46.  Somehow I got turned around in Minneapolis and wound up at the university of minnesota campus.  T...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Mon, 09 Oct 2006 09:07:00 PST

One of my works is getting workshopped...

Duo 46, a classical guitar and violin duo, along with the American Composers' Forum are sponsoring a composer workshop and reading session at Hamline University in Saint Paul, MN. They chose a piece I...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Sun, 27 Aug 2006 11:05:00 PST

Bohemian Rhapsody

So I get to play Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody with the Northwest Indiana Symphony in September.  I have always liked Queen and that album especially since I was a kid.  It was one of the many i...
Posted by Richard L. Ortiz - Composer on Sun, 20 Aug 2006 07:42:00 PST