Dr. Alexa Rinn

Instructor

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Biography

Alexa Rinn is a Chicago-based composer specializing in contemporary classical music. Her passion for indie rock, shoegaze, and heavy genres of popular music deeply informs her compositional process, particularly in terms of timbral and structural explorations. Rinn’s recent projects aim to access the visceral immediacy of popular music by bridging the feeling of separation between sound sources and listeners. She has had her works performed and recorded by various ensembles, including Unassisted Fold, Omnibus Ensemble, SONAR Ensemble, Quartetto Maurice, and Occasional Symphony, among others. Additionally, her music has been featured at festivals such as New Music Point, the Eugene O’Neill National Puppetry Conference, the Highscore Festival, and the Norfolk New Music Workshop. Rinn holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) and a Master of Music (MM) degree in composition from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied under Michael Hersch. She also completed her Bachelor of Music (BM) in composition and music theory at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, studying with Rodney Lister, Samuel Headrick, and Ketty Nez.

Research Interests

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.