Bio

Regina Harris Baiocchi writes notes and words to fill vessels called music, poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Regina is driven by her curiosity to create art that is informed by research, speaks to diverse audiences, and moves people.

Regina’s catalogue includes compositions for woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, orchestra, keyboard, multi-media, choral, sacred, jazz, opera, art songs, and pop tunes. Her music has been performed by members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seattle Philharmonic, US Army Band, American Guild of Organists, Chicago Brass Quintet, Gaudete Brass Quintet, Milwaukee Brass Quintet, Lincoln Trio, Avalon String Quartet, and other acclaimed artists.

Regina’s byline appears in publications by Oxford University, Third World Press, Facts on File, Greenwood Publishing Group, Black Music Research Journal, and Brass Legacy. Regina is profiled in the New Grove Dictionary of American Music, International Dictionary of Black Composers, From Spirituals to Symphonies, and International Trumpet Guild.

In 2004 Regina founded Haiku Festival to celebrate children thru poetry and promote literacy. In 2010 she founded 6Degrees Composers to feature womxn’s music. Regina served as guest lecturer at Northwestern University, Wayne State U., Indiana U. South Bend, Indiana U. Bloomington, and she taught at Columbia College Chicago. She was composer in residence at Northern IL U., Mostly Music, and Ravinia Festival.

Regina has been honored with awards from 3Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, ASCAP, Jazz Institute of Chicago & Mellon Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago & Lila Wallace Foundation, Arts Midwest, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, Chicago Public Library, and Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

Regina is an alumna of NYU, DePaul, and Roosevelt universities. She studied music composition with Hale Smith. Other mentors include William Butler Fielder, Alan Swain, Marilyn J. Harris, Elsa Harris, Ms. Gwendolyn Brooks, and Elgie & Lanzie Harris.

Regina’s papers are archived at the Newberry Library, Center for Black Music Research, Tulane University’s Amistad Research Center, and Chicago Public Library’s Vivian Harsh Collection at Carter G. Woodson Library.