About

Em (Emzie) Roberts (b. 1997) is a Boston and Southern California-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and electronic musician. Em strives to create genre-blended music that combines classical and romantic music with folk, rock, pop, and electronic elements. 

     

In 2020, in collaboration with pianist Erika Matei, Em composed “Dissolution” for piano and electronics, which used processed field recordings from a cave in Sequoia National Park, to represent the science behind the formation of a cave over millions of years.

     

In addition, she has used scientific concepts in other works, such as “The Forest That Lives Underwater” premiered by the prestigious loadbang in 2019. Other notable works of hers include a piece for solo violin and electronics, “Holy Grail”, in collaboration for Hsiu-Ping (Patrick) Wu, three piano trios: “Beginnings”, “Complexion” (inspired by the relationship between sound and color), and “W.E.R.R.” premiered by Horszowski Trio, as well as “Brick”, composed for cellist Kai Crull.

     

Em recently finished a song cycle for voice and piano using poetry about death from various poets, which was premiered on her graduating student recital in May 2023 by Em (piano and voice) and Charlotte Koonce (voice). Slated for a 2024 release is an album from her solo side-project, Sink Pool, that she lovingly self-wrote, recorded, and produced.

     

As an enthusiastic teacher, Em has instructed students both privately and in the classroom for flute, music theory, and composition. She hopes to inspire a love for self-expression through music in her students (of all ages), and a greater understanding of how music works.

     

Em completed her Master of Music in Composition and her Undergraduate Diploma in Composition as a Presidential Scholar at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She attended the Divergent Studio in 2019, where she had a masterclass with Dr. Aaron Helgeson, and lessons with Dr. Hannah Lash and Dr. John Morrison. She has studied composition with Dr. Amy Beth Kirsten, Peter Aldins, and Dr. Alexandra du Bois, flute with Benjamin Smolen and Dr. Cobus du Toit, and piano with Dr. Libor Dudás.