About

Charlie DeRose is a composer, pianist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist whose lifelong dedication to music informs his distinctive artistic voice. Drawing upon jazz, pop, classical, and contemporary traditions, his most recent compositions include Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra, Breaking Ground for big band, strings, and electronics, and Diminishing Returns for flute and piano.

His first large-scale work was Army of One, a full-length musical exploring the effects of PTSD, which he wrote and performed in high school at age 17. He is currently working on Penance, a contemporary musical blending jazz and new music harmony, and Piece by Piece, a keyboard-driven concept album fusing pop, rock, jazz, and classical, exploring themes of anxiety and self-identity. The first single off the album, “Raindrops,” is available now on all streaming platforms.

A versatile performer, DeRose plays keyboards, electric bass, guitar, and saxophones, bringing vibrant energy and meaningful connection to every performance. Since 2018, he has served as an accompanist and cantor for religious services and weddings.

As a passionate educator, DeRose is dedicated to nurturing each student’s individual musicianship and fostering their confidence both in and out of the classroom. Since 2021, he has taught instrumental and vocal lessons in one-on-one and group settings. From 2023 to 2025, he served as a general music instructor for PreK–8 at a private school in Buffalo, NY, while also directing high school ensembles (grades 9–12).

DeRose studied music composition at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College, where he was mentored by Gregory Spears, Laura Kaminsky, and Kamala Sankaram.