Faith Puppala

Education

• MM, Theory/Composition, UW-Milwaukee, 2025.
• BFA, Music Composition-Technology, UW-Milwaukee, 2023.

Biography

Faith Puppala is a Milwaukee-based composer, performer, and educator born and raised in Wisconsin. An accomplished pianist and vocalist with an extensive background in musical theater, Puppala brings a diverse range of musical and theatrical influences to her work. Her compositions span chamber music, jazz, and electronic music, reflecting her versatility and willingness to explore unconventional approaches to musical expression.

As a composer, Puppala has collaborated with notable ensembles, including Third Coast Percussion, the Cream City Quartet, and Venturer. Her compositional style embraces both traditional musical practices and avant-garde experimentation, allowing her to explore new possibilities in sound, performance, and audience engagement. She is particularly interested in music as a form of performance and views the act of composition as a collaborative process. By fostering an open, positive, and welcoming environment for her performers, Puppala encourages experimentation, creative exchange, and meaningful connections between musicians and their audiences.

Puppala's background in musical theater has played a significant role in shaping her artistic perspective. Through her experience performing in theatrical productions, she has developed an appreciation for storytelling, character development, and the transformative possibilities of performance. The experience of embodying characters and inhabiting worlds beyond her own has influenced her approach to composition, inspiring her to explore similar ideas through music. Whether working with instrumentalists, vocalists, or electronic sounds, she seeks to create engaging musical experiences that invite performers and listeners alike to become part of a larger artistic narrative.

In addition to her work as a composer and performer, Puppala is an educator specializing in general music education and private instrumental and vocal instruction. She is passionate about helping students develop their musical abilities while discovering their own creative voices. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes active participation, artistic exploration, and the importance of music-making as a collaborative and expressive experience. She strives to create an encouraging learning environment in which students feel empowered to experiment, compose, and develop their individual musical interests.

As both an educator and an artist, Puppala hopes to continue applying the knowledge and skills gained throughout her musical studies to inspire the next generation of musicians. Through her compositions, performances, and teaching, she aims to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and a lasting appreciation for music, encouraging others to discover the joy and fulfillment of making music themselves.

Recent & Selected Works