Cary Ratcliff, a native of California, lives in Rochester, New York. He studied composition and piano at the Eastman School of Music, and accompanied in the voice studio of Jan DeGaetani. His operas include Eleni, which was selected for NY City Opera’s 2008 VOX concert showcase of new American operas, and an opera for children’s chorus, Mice and Beans.

Recordings include Harmonia Mundi’s album of his oratorio “Ode To Common Things” on poems of Pablo Neruda, by Conspirare under Craig Hella Johnson, which was nominated for Best Choral Performance for the 2016 GrammyAwards; an album of artsongs on Albany Records, ‘Kathryn Lewek sings Cary Ratcliff’; Mitzie Collins’ album Rejoice, virtuosic carols for Flute, Harp and Hammer Dulcimer; and a self-produced recording of his opera Eleni. Chamber works include Gitanjali Dances, presented by Alexa Stihl at the 2015 National Flute Convention, Voyager for Trombone and Piano, and Grasshopper Dances for Saxophone and Strings.

His Viola Concerto won the ASCAP Nissim Prize for best new American Orchestral work. He created a decade of orchestral soundtracks for the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Museum, and electronic soundtracks for the St. Paul, Indianapolis and Rochester Planetariums.

Ratcliff is Artistic Director of the chamber choir Madrigalia, which has recorded his E. E. Cummings Madrigals. He plays piano and celesta with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and trains its opera choruses. Also as conductor, he served for three seasons conducting Eastman School of Music’s Musica Nova Ensemble, and Graduate Chamber Orchestra.

Choral works for children and adults are published by G. Schirmer, Boosey&Hawkes, and Hal Leonard.