Algera studied composition in NYC with Daron Hagen and David Del Tredici. Received his M.A. in Music Composition from CCNY. Recipient of the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation grant, VCCA Residency, Fellowship by the Dodge Foundation grant, Goldfine Scholarship and John Worst Music Scholarship. Commissioned by the Hudson Symphony of New Jersey. Co-founded Tobenski-Algera concert series, a semi-regular classical concert program championing new music from contemporary composers (more info here).