Lawrence Lapin

Lawrence (Larry) Lapin (November 24, 1935) is an American composer, music educator, conductor, arranger, and pianist.

Biography

Lapin comes from a musical family; his father was a professional violinist and his mother was a vaudeville performer.

Lapin studied music theory, composition, and piano with, among others, Alfred Reed, James Clifton Williams, and F. Ashe at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in music theory and composition.

In 1968, he became a teacher of music theory and composition at his Alma mater, Frost School Of Music, University of Miami, Coral Gables. In 1978-1979, he taught at the University of Colorado Denver, but then returned to Coral Gables. He introduced a new Jazz Vocal diploma to this university. In 2009, he won the Phillip Frost Award for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship.

After teaching the University of Miami for 45 years, Lapin retired in May 2013.

Lapin has played as a jazz pianist with various well-known musicians such as Gerry Mulligan, Bobby Shew, Johnny Smith, George Duvivier, and Sarah Vaughan.  In addition, he has appeared with such show business personalities as Rich Little, Phyllis Diller, Cab Calloway, and Tony Bennett.

His arrangements and orchestrations are performed by both student groups and professional ensembles. In addition to numerous arrangements, he also wrote his own works for orchestra, concert band, jazz and big bands, vocal music, and chamber music. He is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), International Association of Jazz Educators, American Federation of Musicians, American Choral Directors Association, and the Florida Vocal Association.