Collaborate
As an experienced composer and arranger, there are many ways in which Chris may be interested in collaborating with you, and in which he may be able to assist you in your own musical endeavors. What follows are a few of these ways, and while the list isn't exhaustive, it should, at least, serve as a good starting place. When in doubt, feel free to contact him.
Also, if you are an educator, please take a moment to read this.
Also, if you are an educator, please take a moment to read this.
Commission new music
“I have grown confident over the past few years of the reaction I will observe when I announce that we are going to begin rehearsing a piece by Chris Massa. I know there will be a cheer, excited faces looking at each other, and other murmurs of excitement. These students know what I know—that the music Chris writes connects with performer and audience every time and that the music is a joy to both rehearse and perform. Our choirs have commissioned Chris to write individual pieces for all levels as well as some large scale works. Each time, Chris has created works that are beautiful, age appropriate, approachable by audiences, and instant favorites for our students.”
Philip Warner
Educator
There are few things that Chris enjoys more than writing new music, particularly when it is for a specific musician, ensemble, and/or occasion. Pieces that he has written on commission have included anthems for church use, incidental music for stage and screen, and choral and instrumental music (including large-scale works) for both student and and professional ensembles. In other words, there is no project too large or small, and no ensemble too experienced or inexperienced.
If you are interested in commissioning a new work from Chris, please contact him (or use the contact form) with as many details of the project as possible, including the type of piece (i.e., ensemble, desired length, etc.), the deadline, and the proposed commissioning fee. As soon as possible (usually within a week), Chris will be in touch with you about the project. Please be aware that, from time to time, it is necessary for Chris to decline proposals, usually due to timing and scheduling constraints.
By the way, if you are an educator and heaven’t read this, you probably should.
Arrange existing music
“Chris Massa brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience to a piece of music, and at the same time, he has the sensitivity and understanding to know how the song needs to be. Chris isn’t interested in leaving his mark, he’s only interested in making something beautiful. He is the rare blend of immense talent and no ego. His priority is always to serve the song, not the other way around.”
Ben Hardt
Bandleader and Producer, New Victorians
Chris is available to arrange existing work for any ensemble, vocal and/or instrumental. As is the case with commissioning new works, please contact him (or use the contact form) with as many details of the project as possible, including the type of piece (i.e., ensemble, desired length, etc.) and the deadline. As soon as possible (usually within a week), Chris will be in touch with you about the project. Please be aware that, from time to time, it is necessary for Chris to decline proposals, usually due to timing and scheduling constraints.
A brief word about legal stuff: Due to the need to adhere to U.S. copyright laws, any and all pieces that are submitted for arrangement consideration must be either written by yourself or in the public domain. If, during the course of arranging, it is discovered that the source material is not in the public domain, the arrangement will cease, the work will be destroyed, and you will be billed for the time spent on the arrangement thus far.
By the way, if you are an educator and heaven’t read this, you really should.
Copy/edit existing music
“Having entrusted Chris with multiple large copyist projects as well as several arrangement gigs, I've come to truly appreciate his sharp eye for detail and determination for clerical perfection and professionalism. He has always been able to not only finish his tasks on or before deadlines, but typically goes above and beyond to ensure that not a single rest is out of place. He is the only person I trust my scores with for this type of work.”
Blake Ragghianti
Composer and Co-Founding Executive Director, OvreArts
From time to time, Chris has been available to create professional quality sheet music from a pre-existing manuscript, computer-generated or hand-written. That said — and this is a great problem to have — he’s pretty darn busy with commissions, so he’s having to do accept fewer copyist gigs. Still, if you have a project, please feel free to contact him (or use the contact form) with as many details as possible, including the type of piece and the deadline. As soon as possible (usually within a week), Chris will be in touch with you about the project.
Please be aware that Chris is not no longer accepting transcription projects (i.e., where sheet music is made from a recording). If you have written a piece that you’d like to turn into sheet music, Chris’s recommendation is that you download Musescore, which is music notation software that is both terrific and free.
Also, as is the case with arrangements there is the need to adhere to U.S. copyright laws, so any and all pieces that are submitted for transcription consideration must be either written by yourself or in the public domain. If, during the course of arranging, it is discovered that the source material is not in the public domain, the transcription will cease, the work will be destroyed, and you will be billed for the time spent on the project thus far.