Edgar F. Girtain, IV

Edgar F. Girtain, IV is an American composer whose works for orchestra, voice, and chamber ensembles are performed across the Americas and beyond.

After studies at Ithaca College, Rutgers, SUNY Buffalo, and Princeton, he developed a distinct musical language rooted in lyricism, directness, and emotional clarity. From 2014 to 2024, he lived and taught in southern Chile, where his music engaged with community, climate, and memory—an experience that shaped much of his output during that time. These works for violin and piano, written for Baldini over a five-year period, reflect that period of creative focus. His music has been performed by the Arditti Quartet, the Boulder Symphony, and the National Chamber Orchestra of Chile, among others, and is widely available through imslp.org. Girtain currently serves as Director of Choirs and Music Education at Western Colorado University and lives in Gunnison, Colorado with his wife and daughters.