Riley Ferretti is a composer, vocalist, and electronic artist whose work explores the relationships between voice, technology, light, and the human experience. Drawing from poetry, nature, and personal experience, Ferretti creates choral, instrumental, electronic, and interactive works that move between intimate acoustic sound and technological environments. Her work is interested in the ways sound can become physical, immersive, and shared.
Her practice increasingly explores the space between the human body and electronic systems. Through voice, Max/MSP electronics, light, and interactive technology, Ferretti creates performances and musical environments that invite attention, reflection, and stillness. Her light-controlled instrument extends these interests into a physical interface between light and sound, forming an ongoing body of work centered on immersive and meditative performance.
Ferretti’s work has been performed by the Washington Master Chorale, Longleash, Ekmeles, Ensemble Dal Niente, and the University of Florida New Music Vocal Ensemble. Her work has been recognized through the Chorus Austin Composer’s Competition Young Composers Division, the KMEA Collegiate Composition Competition, and the International Alliance for Women in Music Search for New Music, and has been presented at SEAMUS, the FSU Festival of New Music, and the Performing Media Festival.
Recent projects include Cum erubuerint, for voice, electronics, and audio-reactive visual elements, and an original piano composition commissioned by Penguin Random House for the promotional campaign of Sophie Chen Keller’s Little Wonder. Ferretti holds degrees in music composition from the University of Louisville and the University of Florida. Outside of her artistic practice, she supports access to higher education.
Events and News
University of Louisville
"Alumna Riley Ferretti returns to the University of Louisville following the recent viral success of her original “light instrument,” which was featured on CNN and garnered widespread attention on social media. In addition to performing with her light instrument and meeting with students, Ferretti will see the premiere of a new work by the University Chorale."
CNN
"Composer Riley Ferretti developing an instrument using her computer and light to create music." - CNN interview
Performing Media Festival
"Moon Dark World" perfomance during the opening concert at the Louise E. Addicott & Yatish J. Joshi Performance Hall."