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Conrad Susa

1935 – 2013

American composer

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About Conrad Susa

Lived 1935 – 2013 (aged 78). Conrad Susa was an American composer and music educator.

Conrad Stephen Susa (April 26, 1935 – November 21, 2013) was an American composer. Born in Springdale, Pennsylvania, Susa studied at the Carnegie Institute of Technology and the Juilliard School, where his teachers included William Bergsma, Vincent Persichetti and, by his own claim, P. D. Q. Bach, the fictitious spoof character created by American composer Peter Schickele.

From 1959 to 1994, Susa was composer-in-residence for the Old Globe Theater (San Diego, California), where he wrote incidental music for over 200 productions there. In 1988, he joined the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and remained there as a professor of composition until his death.

Susa became particularly known for his 5 operas. His 1973 chamber opera, Transformations, set to texts from the poems of Anne Sexton, is one of the most frequently performed operas by an American composer. His other compositions include choral works and incidental music for various plays. His music is published by the E.C. Schirmer Music Company.

Selected works Operas Transformations (1973) Black River (1975, revised 1981) The Love of Don Perlimplin (1984) The Wise Women (1994) The Dangerous Liaisons (1994, revised 1996–97)

Other works Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1972) Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest (1992)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Employers
San Francisco Conservatory of Music

People in Conrad Susa's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Conrad Susa's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Conrad Susa?

American composer

When was Conrad Susa born?

Conrad Susa was born on 26 April 1935 in Springdale.

When did Conrad Susa die?

Conrad Susa died on 21 November 2013 in San Francisco.

What was Conrad Susa's occupation?

Conrad Susa was a composer and music educator.

What nationality was Conrad Susa?

Conrad Susa was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Conrad Susa

· Wikidata: Q2993633

· DBpedia: Conrad Susa

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Conrad Susa. https://biography.guide/conrad-susa/

MLA: "Conrad Susa." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/conrad-susa/.

Chicago: "Conrad Susa." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/conrad-susa/.

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