Dr. Drozin was recruited for his gymnastics skill by Olympics Coach Bud Beyer at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh, where Garth competed for four years as Team MVP, and as Captain in his senior year. Initially a pre-law major, Garth added music as a major, having invented new composition courses at SUNY Plattsburgh on the way to graduation in 1975. During his time in Plattsburgh, Dr. Drozin composed for various ensembles, including jazz big band and wind ensemble. Garth’s works were performed at SUNY Plattsburgh and the college jazz band toured with his pieces.

His next step was completing a Master of Music degree at the College of Music of the University of North Texas (UNT) in 1977, studying composition principally with William P. Latham, musicology with Cecil Adkins and David Carlson, and conducting with Anshel Brusilow, all while teaching as a University Instructor in gymnastics. Garth composed music for films, TV programs, and commercials, under the tutelage of Lew Gillis, remaining at UNT to begin his first year of work on his DMA in composition, before completing his doctoral work at Cornell University, studying composition with Karel Husa and Steven Stucky, and musicology with William Austin. While still a student, Dr. Drozin garnered several national and international prizes in composition, including from the American Society of University Composers (ASUC) in 1981 for Parabolics (saxophone and percussion), and composed for movies and TV, and on commission from several organizations.

In 1981-82, Dr. Drozin acted as a Professor of Composition at the National Conservatory of Portugal, in Lisbon, and as a composer/musicologist for the Gulbenkian Foundation. In 1982-83, while the Composer-in-Residence at SUNY Binghamton, Garth was awarded a Fulbright Senior Professorship, whereupon he became the Acting Director of Composition Studies at the National School of Music (UFRJ) in Brazil, in 1983, also presenting lectures and seminars on contemporary music at every major city in Brazil, serving as a judge of the South American Young Artists Competition, and presenting a concert of his music, called “Auralisms,” at the Salao Leopoldo Miguez in Rio de Janeiro.

Drozin’s music has been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, the Wind Ensembles of Ohio State University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory, Cornell University, Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and MIT, and at UNT, Yale University, Hamilton College, Brown University, RPI, Bell Labs, Ithaca College, Arkansas State University, and Cerritos College, and SUNY campuses at Binghamton, Plattsburgh, Cortland, Fredonia, Albany, and Oswego, as well as numerous other sites that include churches, basilicas, festivals, and synagogues.

As a conductor or vocal/instrumental performer, Dr. Drozin has appeared in concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Syracuse Symphony, Arditti Quartet, and numerous university ensembles. Some of his music has been published and commercially recorded, and has been performed on four continents. Drozin’s art has been exhibited in museums, including the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art.

Dr. Drozin has received composition prizes and awards from ASCAP, SESAC, the Fulbright Commission, American Society of University Composers, National Association of Composers, USA, Internationales Musikinstitut Darmstadt, National Endowment for the Arts, Gulbenkian Foundation, and Meet the Composer, among other foundations. He authored several published articles on music and served as President of his NY State region of the Percussive Arts Society.  

Garth obtained a JurisDoctor degree from the Southwestern Law School in 1987, with honors, including serving on the Law Review, and was admitted to practice law in California, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia. He has given law seminars in several states and published numerous articles in law journals, newspapers, and magazines.

Dr. Drozin is especially proud of his students, several of whom have gone on to excellent careers as composers, professors, and performers. He is available to compose works of every genre and instrumentation. Garth especially enjoys composing for chorus, band, percussion ensemble, and symphony orchestra. He is fluent in several languages and will travel for rehearsals/concerts.