Richard Karpen (born April 23, 1957) is an American composer of electronic and acoustic music.
Born in New York City, Karpen studied composition with Georghe Costinescu and Charles Dodge.
He received his doctorate in composition from Stanford University, where he also worked at the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA).
He joined the Composition faculty of the School of Music at the University of Washington in 1989.
In 1994 he founded CARTAH, a center for computer-based research in the arts and humanities and the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) at the University of Washington, serving as its initial Director from 2001– 2006.
He has also served as Divisional Dean for Research in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington.
He has composed works for many leading international soloists such as soprano Judith Bettina, violist Garth Knox, trombonist Stuart Dempster, flutists Laura Chislett and Jos Zwaanenberg, oboist Alex Klein, and guitarist Stefan Ostersjo.
Along with numerous concert and radio performances, his works have been set to dance by groups such as the Royal Danish Ballet and the Guandong Dance Company of China.
Karpen has been the recipient of grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the ASCAP Foundation, the Bourges Competition in France, and the Luigi Russolo Foundation in Italy.
Solo/Tutti; Exchange; Life Studies #1 and #5; Anterior View of an Interior with Reclining Trombonist: The Conservation of Energy.
Garth Knox, viola, Stuart Dempster, trombone, Jos Zwaanenberg, flute, William O. Smith, clarinet.
Nam Mai, Vietnamese instruments and string orchestra.