reviews & commentary on the musical compositions of 
 Crystal Godfrey LaPoint

Crystal LaPoint’s music is superb. She touches the listener’s soul in most unique ways through her artistry and sophisticated compositional techniques. LaPoint’s writing offers the listener magical, soulful, heartfelt, and beautiful moments both in choral and instrumental works.​

Dr. Barbara M. Tagg

Assistant Professor, Syracuse University, retired

Founder/Artistic Director Emerita, Syracuse Children’s Chorus

Beautiful piece! Affecting and natural, and superbly written for voices and instruments.

Steven Stucky (late)

Pulitzer Prize winning composer

Professor of Composition at The Juilliard School & Cornell University

Composer Crystal LaPoint creates a very special palette of music, words, moods, and feelings to bring the texts she sets to life. Foremost among her skills is her ability to create music that singers want to sing, that people want to hear, and that the world needs to listen to. Her harmonic structure is subtle but accessible to the singers and wonderfully original. Her use of instruments with voices creates a truly unique dichotomy – never truly together, but crucially necessary to and for each other. Ms. LaPoint is a gifted composer who deserves an enthusiastic listening audience.

G. Burton Harbison (late)

Conductor Emeritus of the Syracuse University Oratorio Society

Associate Professor Emeritus, Setnor School of Music, Syracuse University

Crystal LaPoint’s music is a gift to performers and their audiences. It is extraordinary to find a composer’s repertoire that ranges from the beguiling simplicity of her works for young singers to the sophistication, expressive power, and emotional impact of her large-scale works for chorus and orchestra. LaPoint's music reflects that rarest of talents: the ability to reach both heart and mind with a uniquely personal but broadly accessible voice.

Daniel Strong Godfrey

critically acclaimed composer & co-author of “Music Since 1945”

Professor Emeritus – Music, College of Arts, Media & Design, Northeastern University

Founder, Seal Bay Festival of American Chamber Music

. . . sense of dramatic timing is really acute . . . interesting references to Barber, Bernstein, and Tippett.

Elliott Schwartz (late)

acclaimed composer & author

Professor Emeritus of Music at Bowdoin College 

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Crystal LaPoint is a major league composer who is musically expressive, convincing, and sophisticated. Best of all, she is not afraid of tonality and even clever references to folk music. . . . Brava, Ms. LaPoint!

William Davis

Professor Emeritus (Bassoon, Composition, Associate Director)

Hugh Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia

D.M.A, Eastman School of Music

Crystal Godfrey LaPoint’s “Sonata for Bassoon & Piano” is a characterful recital piece that is truly a joy to play. Its charm, beauty, and humor are met with moments of seriousness and strife, resulting in a satisfyingly balanced musical journey. Technically and artistically challenging, this sonata is worthy of the investment of time and effort for students as well as professional instrumentalists, resulting in that rare musical experience that is stylistically accessible and engaging to a wide variety of performers and audiences alike.

Sasha Gee Enegren

Assistant Professor of Bassoon & Woodwind Dept. Coordinator, Montclair State University

bassoonist with the Quintet of the Americas, IRIS, Savannah Philharmonic & Montclair Orchestra

. . . an original mind at work . . . filled with melodic delights and tone colors . . . [her] highly dramatic settings are crafty, weighty, and deeply moving . . . marvelously atmospheric . . . a work of great beauty

Syracuse Post-Standard

music critic review

Crystal is the real deal, a vibrant composer with a unique and beautiful “voice.”

Jonathan English

Assistant Professor of Voice, Setnor School of Music, Syracuse University