The music of American composer Dean Rosenthal encompasses several unique trajectories. In 1996 he led a group in Canada known as the Montreal Scratch Orchestra in a rendition of Cornelius Cardew's The Great Learning acclaimed by Musicworks that began his career."

 In 1997, Rosenthal composed a series of portraits of American composers and other musicians that were eventually broadcast by Joan La Barbara on the eclectic radio program, "Other Voices, Other Sounds" in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 A decision in 1998 to concentrate composing music for classically trained musicians led to compositions for 2, 3 or more musicians, choir, and other ensembles. Since then, Dean has also performed with Lauri des Marais and in the summer of 2000 was part of Pauline Oliveros's Lunar Opera at the Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors festival.

 His music has been performed in Cambridge, London, Montreal, Santa Fe, in Somerville, Massachusetts at the Gallery Bershad, and Valencia, California. Among others, McGill University, Harvard University and the Royal Academy of Music have played host to performances and unreleased recordings, many by students.