Since childhood, Virginia Emrick has been writing stories and inventing characters. She began her professional writing career penning commercials for cable television in New Jersey. During that time, she also edited a weekly local cable program called “Cinnaminson Notebook” and was involved in writing skits for local elementary school programs.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1992, Virginia wrote various marketing materials as well as technical and training documents. In 2002, she was a finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition and in 2006, one of her songs reached the advanced judging process in the International Songwriting Competition.
Following her first songwriting achievement, Virginia began formal songwriting study under the tutelage of multi-platinum songwriter and producer Marty Panzer, where she received his “Barry Manilow Scholarship for Writing Lyrics that Succeed and Endure.” She also studied songwriting with award-winning songwriters Arthur Hamilton and Harriet Schock, as well as studying with The Academy for New Musical Theatre, where she is a current member.
In 2004, Virginia completed her first major work for musical theatre, titled “The Ultimate Musical” which was written with German composer Peter Michael von der Nahmer. This piece was performed in both the United States and Germany, where it received press accolades and is awaiting a theatre for future performances.
Following the success of “The Ultimate Musical,” Virginia co-wrote a mini-musical with composer-lyricist Stephanie Hutchinson and wrote various short plays and songs for an upcoming film slated for international release. She is currently working on her second novel, “Spirit of America,” various children’s stories, and a children’s opera along with a number of individual songs for choirs and performing artists.
Virginia holds both a BA and MA in communications and is a member of ASCAP, The Society for Composers & Lyricists, The Academy for New Musical Theatre, and The Dramatist Guild.