Aaron D'Zurilla
Theorist/TCC Founder
He/Him
Aaron D'Zurilla is the primary host and founder of the Theorist Composer Collaboration. With diverse research interests in both modern classical composition and rap, Aaron has presented work at the 2025 Indiana University Symposium of Research in Music, with a paper titled: “Guess Who’s Back: Narrative Subversions in The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce)". In a currently forthcoming presentation, Aaron will also present at the 2025 Analytical Approaches to World Musics Symposium on the Music Theories, Histories, Analysis, and the Musical Cultures of Asia, with a paper titled: "International and Personal Tragedy in "A Vietnamese Mother’s Letter to Nixon" (2023)". Aaron also has a forthcoming publication through SMT-Pod, titled: "Trauma and Vocal Timbre in Ellen Reid’s p r i s m (2019)"
Aaron holds a Bachelor's of Music in Music Theory from the University of Florida and a Master's of Music in Music Theory from Florida State University.
Contact:
acdzurilla@yahoo.com
941-773-1394
July 21, 2025
TCC 40. Who Is Music For? - Professor Roshanne Etezady
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features Professor of Composition Roshanne Etezady. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Professor Etezady about her background, journey to professorship, evolu...
July 7, 2025
TCC 39. Social Movements and Protest Scholarship - Professor Noriko Manabe
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features the music theorist Professor Noriko Manabe. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Professor Manabe about her background, career journey, the relevance o...
June 24, 2025
TCC 38. Becoming Tangible - Dr. Amelia Brey
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features the composer Dr. Amelia Brey and her piece Becoming Tangible . Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Dr. Brey about her background, process of compositi...
May 26, 2025
TCC 36. Politicization, Autonomy, and Resistance - Professor Michael Buchler
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features the music theorist and former SMT president Professor Michael Buchler. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Dr. Buchler about his background, the curre...
May 12, 2025
TCC 35. Vigil - Emelia Ulrich
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features the composer Emelia Ulrich and her piece Vigil . Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Emelia about her background, philosophy in music, the piece Vigil...
April 28, 2025
TCC 34. Sermon of the Matriark - W4RP Trio
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features Josh Henderson and Mikael Darmanie of the group W4RP Trio alongside their group’s recent collaboration with artist LiKWUiD, Sermon of the MatriarK . Music t...
April 12, 2025
TCC 33. One-Year Anniversary Special
This episode marks the one-year anniversary of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast! Host Aaron D’Zurilla recaps the past year, lessons learned, the next steps in content, life in general, and the special reveal of the...
March 17, 2025
TCC 32. Key Constellations - Professor Táhirih Motazedian
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration features the music theorist Professor Táhirih Motazedian alongside her award-winning book Key Constellations: Interpreting Tonality in Film. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla t...
March 3, 2025
TCC 31. The Recusant's Dream - Isabella Temperville
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration features the composer Isabella Temperville and her album The Recusant’s Dream. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Isabella about her interests, catch up with her sinc...
Jan. 20, 2025
TCC 30. HUGO - Purple Kloud
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration features the artist Purple Kloud and tracks from his album HUGO. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Purple Kloud about his background, the genre of “Pyrofuzz”, his wr...
Jan. 6, 2025
TCC 29. A Joyous Trilogy - Quinn Mason
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration features the composer Quinn Mason alongside his piece A Joyous Trilogy. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Quinn about his background, finding success in collaboratio...
Dec. 23, 2024
TCC 28. Concerto for 6 String Electric Violin - Will Davenport
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration features the composer Will Davenport and his piece Concerto for 6 String Electric Violin. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Will about his year in composition, refle...
Dec. 9, 2024
TCC 27. Clementine, You wouldn't believe, Icarus - Alivia Hunter
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration features the artist Alivia Hunter alongside her songs, Clementine , You wouldn’t believe, and Icarus. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Alivia her background, wr...
Nov. 4, 2024
TCC 26. Women in Composition - TCC Roundtable
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is a TCC Roundtable, with today’s topic being Women in Composition. Featuring the composers Mary Denney and Ky Nam Nguyen, we discuss their own experiences, historic...
Oct. 21, 2024
TCC 25. Land of Cloud-Tinted Water - Katherine Bergman
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features the composer Katherine Bergman and her piece Land of Cloud Tinted-Water. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Katherine her background, evoking nat...
Oct. 7, 2024
TCC 24. Uncharted - Dr. Francisco Javier de Alba
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features Dr. Francisco Javier de Alba and his piece Uncharted. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discuss with Dr. “Paco” de Alba his background, diverse musical influen...
Sept. 16, 2024
TCC 23. The Classical Canon - TCC Roundtable
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the first TCC Roundtable, with today’s subject being The Classical Canon. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with performer/educator Dr. Pamela Mireles and ...
Sept. 2, 2024
TCC 22. Voix des Femmes - Professor Nadine Silverman
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features Professor Nadine Silverman and her piece Voix des Femmes. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discuss with Professor Silverman her background, styles of composit...
Aug. 26, 2024
TCC 21. Ars Poetica - Professor Douglas Boyce
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features Professor Douglas Boyce and his piece Ars Poetica. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Professor Boyce his background, modernism, Ars Poetica, col...
Aug. 20, 2024
TCC 20. Albireo - Michael Dixon
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast features the composer Michael Dixon and their piece Albireo. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Michael experiences in compositional development, writing ...
Aug. 12, 2024
TCC 19. Collaboration in Reality - TCC Roundtable
This episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the first TCC Roundtable, with today’s subject being Collaboration in Reality. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with composers Justine de Saint Mars and W...
Aug. 5, 2024
TCC 18. The Vibration of Ancient Incarnations - Daniel Townsend, Ph.D.
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Dr. Daniel Townsend and his piece The Vibration of Ancient Incarnations. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Dr. Townsend his b...
July 29, 2024
TCC 17. Remember Me Then - Jane Kozhevnikova
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Jane Kozhevnikova and her piece Remember Me Then. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Jane her background and journey through m...
July 22, 2024
TCC 16. The Last of Sailing Ships - Jake s. Jordan
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Jake s. Jordan and his piece The Last of Sailing Ships. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Jake his background, storytelling i...
July 15, 2024
TCC 15. Voice Memories - Mary Denney
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Mary Denney and her piece Voice Memories. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Mary her background, programmatic music, Voice Me...
July 8, 2024
TCC 14. Philosophy of a Miracle - Natalia Rojcovscaia-Tumaha
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Natalia Rojcovscaia-Tumaha and her piece Philosophy of a Miracle. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Natalia her background, w...
July 1, 2024
TCC 13. Lavender in a London Fog - Russell N. Avellanosa
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Russell N. Avellanosa and his piece Lavender in a London Fog. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Russell his background, music...
June 24, 2024
TCC 12. Infernal Suite - Isabella Temperville
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Isabella Temperville and her album Infernal Suite . Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Isabella her background, musical inspir...
June 17, 2024
TCC 11. Close to Something - The Housing Crisis
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the artist project The Housing Crisis, also known as the singer/songwriter Dylan O’Brian . Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Dylan his bac...
June 10, 2024
TCC 10. Concertino for Saxophone - Brian Junttila
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration podcast is the composer Brian Junttila and his piece Concertino for Saxophone. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Brian his background, inspirations, ...
June 3, 2024
TCC 9. On My Own - Ben Williams
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the producer Ben Williams and his album On My Own. Music theorist Aaron D’Zurilla discusses with Ben his background, music education, compositional inspiratio...
May 20, 2024
TCC 7. Nihilara - Violincia
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the group Violincia and their debut album, Nihilara. Aaron D’Zurilla talks with Lucy, the creative lead of Violincia, to discuss their inspirations, the conce...
May 13, 2024
TCC 6. We are the stories we've been told - Dr. Michael Kahle
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the composer Dr. Michael Kahle and his piece, We are the stories we’ve been told. We discuss his background, how to “make the musical argument”, collaboration...
May 6, 2024
TCC 5. Teogonía - Dr. Nico Gutierrez
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the composer Dr. Nico Gutierrez and his piece, Teogonía. We discuss his background, Teogonía , writing for orchestra, the dissertation process, artistic adapt...
April 29, 2024
TCC 4. Modest Mutilation - Gabriel Gekoskie
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the composer Gabriel Gekoski and his piece, Modest Mutilation. We discuss his background, artistic philosophy, Modest Mutilation, granular synthesis, minimali...
April 22, 2024
TCC 3. Reed Quintet I - Will Davenport
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the composer Will Davenport and his piece, Reed Quintet I. We discuss his background, compositional process and inspirations, Reed Quintet I, various composit...
April 15, 2024
TCC 2. A Vietnamese Mother's Letter to Nixon - Ky Nam Nguyen
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the composer Ky Nam Nguyen and her piece, A Vietnamese Mother’s Letter to Nixon. We discuss her background, compositional process and inspirations, the histor...
April 12, 2024
TCC 1. Oceans Blooming - Justine de Saint Mars
Featured on this episode of the Theorist Composer Collaboration is the composer Justine de Saint Mars and her piece, Oceans Blooming. We discuss her background, compositional process, Oceans Blooming, and her thoughts on the ...
April 7, 2024
TCC Introduction
Welcome to the Theorist Composer Collaboration! This is a short introductory episode featuring the music theorist and TCC founder Aaron D'Zurilla. This episode briefly explains how to stay informed on and involved with the TCC. This episode also includes music by Justine de Saint Mars, from her pie…
