Steve Rothstein, Ph.D. is active as a composer and music instructor in the Los Angeles area. He received his Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of California, Los Angeles (2006). Mr. Rothstein has written numerous works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, wind ensemble, choral groups, as well as art songs. His works have been performed by The American Youth Symphony, the UCLA Philharmonic, the UC Irvine Symphony, the Redlands Symphony, and the New York Master Chorale. In 2008 his oratorio Hymn of Light received its international premiere in China.
Interest in Judaic music led Dr. Rothstein to study at the Brandeis-Bardin Collegiate Institute (1996), and then onto a one-year study program at the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) program in Arad, Israel (2000-1). Dedicated to promoting Jewish culture through music, Mr. Rothstein has devoted the majority of his choral music to Hebrew texts. His work includes settings for Psalm 27, Psalm 121, numerous Hanukkah pieces, and art songs based on a variety of Hebrew poetry.
As a professor, Dr. Rothstein has lectured on a broad range of music topics including music fundamentals, diatonic harmony, chromatic harmony, 20th-century techniques, composition, orchestration, modal and tonal counterpoint, form and analysis, orchestral score study, style composition, ear-training, and film score analysis. He has taught at Los Angeles Valley College, Santa Monica College, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, and California State University, Dominguez Hills. Mr. Rothstein has also lectured for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Adult Outreach Program. He currently teaches at UCLA Extension’s prestigious Film Scoring Certificate Program where he recently won the 2013 Distinguished Instructor Award.
In preparation for his commission from the Judaic Sacred Music Foundation (Symphony No.1: JUDAICA (Days of Awe), Dr. Rothstein spent considerable time researching the various liturgical melodies and motives used throughout the High Holy Day services and has incorporated them extensively throughout the entire work in order to create a rich tapestry of musical expression based solely on this unique musical liturgy.
