Crowned in Creativity: Brooke deRosa on Crafting Queens, Chaos, and Wonderland
- Dec 7, 2025
- 4 min read
American composer Brooke deRosa has been awarded the Diamond Prize in the Musical/Opera category for her work Off With Their Heads at the Georges Bizet International Music Competition 2025 Season 4. The season was held from 10 July to 10 October 2025, with results released on 29 October. Following her award, we invited Brooke to share more about the creation of Off With Their Heads and her artistic approach.
Brooke deRosa is an award-winning composer, conductor, vocalist, and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Her work spans opera, film, musical theatre, and concert music. Her opera The Yellow Wallpaper premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2025, where she also performed the role of Jenney. She composed the score for Netflix’s The Merry Gentlemen, which reached #1 globally. Brooke has conducted for major TV productions, including Scandal and Luke Cage, and performed with LA Opera, Pacific Symphony, and more. Her whimsical, emotionally rich works — like Alice in Wonderland — blend classical tradition with modern theatrical flair.
Could you please introduce your award-winning composition Off With Their Heads - Alice in Wonderland? When and under what circumstances was it created? Could you share the inspiration behind the work and the message you hope to convey through it?
Brooke Derosa:
"Off With Their Heads was written for Alice in Wonderland, my original opera-musical hybrid inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic novel. I wanted the Queen of Hearts to have a larger-than-life musical presence — dramatic, unhinged, and vocally dazzling. In crafting her aria, I drew on two of my favorite showpieces: Donizetti’s Regnava nel silenzio and Bernstein’s Glitter and Be Gay. The result is a kind of operatic mash-up that combines the gravitas of bel canto with the comedic flair of musical theatre. It’s a joyful explosion of coloratura, chaos, and command — perfect for a queen who demands everything."
What was your creative process like while composing Off With Their Heads? How did you approach the structure and dynamics of the piece?
Brooke Derosa:
"I approached this aria with a traditional operatic structure in mind: first a cavatina, then a cabaletta. The opening section has a stately, almost regal tone — befitting a queen holding court — while the cabaletta lets loose with fire, agility, and over-the-top vocal fireworks. I wanted it to feel like a rollercoaster of mood swings, where elegance and absurdity could coexist. Structurally, the form gives the singer room to explore both nuance and bravado, which felt exactly right for Wonderland’s most infamous monarch."
We listened to your music work Off With Their Heads from a live musical performance recording. Could you tell us about your collaboration with the musicians who performed your work, and share any memorable moments from the rehearsals?
Brooke Derosa:
"Ashley Becker performed the Queen of Hearts in our premiere production, and she was an absolute delight to work with. We staged the number almost like a vintage Marilyn Monroe scene — full of glamor, cheekiness, and magnetic chaos. The other characters swirled around her in comic reverence, and she completely embraced the outrageous tone. It was a blast to rehearse — and truly one of those moments where the staging and music amplified each other in the most joyful way."
Could you talk to us about yourself, your journey in music, and your future goals? Could you also share your perspective on what defines a great composer in today’s digital age, and what you consider to be the most significant artistic or professional challenges facing musicians today and in the coming years?
Brooke Derosa:
"I began my professional career as a classical soprano, but I’ve been writing music my whole life. It wasn’t until after many years onstage that I transitioned into composing full-time, and I now work across multiple genres — opera, musical theatre, orchestral music, and film scoring. I find that jumping between forms keeps my ideas fresh and prevents creative stagnation.
In the digital age, I think a great composer is one who balances emotional truth with technical flexibility. We’re no longer confined to one genre or medium — so the ability to adapt, collaborate, and still hold on to your voice is vital. One of the biggest challenges today is visibility: the sheer volume of content can make it difficult for original voices to break through. But that also makes authenticity more important than ever — people are drawn to what feels real."
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank?
Brooke Derosa:
"I’m so grateful to the Bizet International Music Competition for recognizing this piece and helping it reach new audiences. I’d also like to thank the Alice in Wonderland cast and crew, especially Paige Lehnert, our brilliant librettist. This project has been a labor of love from the beginning, and every collaborator brought it to life with joy and imagination."
