Penrose Marcos Allphin
composer | music cognition student | piano teacher and accompanist
About Penrose
Penrose Marcos Allphin (they/them) is a gay genderqueer composer. They have been composing, playing the piano, and singing in choirs since they were very small. Penrose has taught piano to students ranging in age from 7 to 88, and has designed and tailored much of their elementary piano and theory curriculum. They have several years of experience playing in pit orchestras and music directing, as well as administrative experience at music nonprofits. In the future, Penrose hopes to combine their previous research experience in cognition with their music background to explore the connection between music, language, and the brain –– something they are pursuing in their Master's in Music Theory. In their spare time, they enjoy baking and playing with Hugo, their kitten.
Resume
Smith College, Bachelor of Arts in Music
expected May 2019
Undergraduate studies focused on composition and music theory. Other academic pursuits in college included linguistics coursework and cognition research.
Awards
2018 Smith College Settie Lehman Fatman Prize for the best composition in music in small form, awarded for Sonata for Piano Trio
The 2019 Margaret Collins Stoop Adesso Prize for the best new choral work composed by a Smith student, awarded for Senex Puerum Portabat
Senior Recital
May 2019
Prepared and performed a senior recital that centers the works of composers with gender identities not typically reflected in the classical canon.
Research Assistant
Library and Education Intern
Research Assistant –– Brown University School of Public Health’s Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research
Summer 2019
Springfield Symphony
Summer 2018
Catalogued audition library, researched grants, and assisted librarian and director of education with other tasks.
Music Education Program Intern
Northampton Community Music Center
Summer 2017
Did administrative work in preparation for the school year and for summer programs. Supervised children at camp and assisted with youth orchestra, designed and ran jeopardy-style game for entire camp.
Research Assistant
Smith College Music Department
Jan. 2017 - May 2017
Digitally inputting, editing, and formatting a twentieth-century manuscript of a choral and orchestral work, as well as background research for historical context.
Research Assistant
Smith College de Villiers Psychology Lab
Sept. 2015 - Dec. 2016
Experimental design and fieldwork, observing and collecting data on the caching behavior of squirrels.
Research Assistant
Harvard Pepperberg Lab for Avian Cognition
Jan. 2015 - Aug. 2016
Assisting research trials, inputting research data, vocal modeling, and vocal testing with African Grey Parrots, as well as performing general lab duties such as cleaning, feeding, and animal care.
Instructor
MIT Educational Studies Program
July 2014 - Aug. 2016
Designed and taught several one day and seven-week courses to 7th-10th graders on topics ranging from Asimov, Robots, and Society to Magical Madrigals to History through Musicals.
Piano Teacher
several years of experience
taught students ranging in age from 7 to 88 and designed educational materials for beginning piano and music theory
Pit Musician/Music Directing
since 2011
Legally Blonde / Keyboard II
Stages: A Musical Revue / Assistant MD, Arranger, and Pianist
In The Heights / Keyboard I
The Wedding Singer / Assistant MD, Pianist, and Pit Leader
Jekyll & Hyde / Assistant MD, Pianist, and Pit Leader
