2023 Cohort of Composition Participants & Faculty

The composition program at soundSCAPE seeks to offer significant artistic and professional learning opportunities for composers, through participation in intensive composition seminars, lectures, rehearsals, and premieres of their works.

Composition Seminar

Central to the program is the daily composition seminar, a forum for all composition participants to present their work for general discussion and technical scrutiny. The purpose of the seminar is to elucidate the connection between artistic expression and compositional technique in the works being presented. The seminar will be led by composition faculty and guests.

Lecture Series

Each member of the composition faculty will offer a presentation about his/her own work. In addition, the faculty will offer analytical presentations about works selected from the festival’s performance repertoire, as well as other significant works from the past 50 years. Performance faculty offer a variety of presentations as well, ranging from workshops on performing complex rhythms, to writing for voice and other instruments.

Composition Lessons

Faculty member Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez and special guest composition faculty will offer individual lessons to interested participants. Each participant can sign up for two individual meetings with faculty during the course of the festival. 

Your Music Performed

Each participant in the composition program will be commissioned to compose a solo work for premiere at the festival with the following instrumental choices: Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Percussion, Voice (with optional piano accompaniment), Electronics (an electro-acoustic element may be arranged for commissions, if desired). 10 minute maximum duration. 

Commission assignments will be determined by the program coordinator, upon consideration of the previous experience of each participant composer. Performances are meticulously prepared under the supervision of performance faculty. Participant composers are expected to attend rehearsals of their work, and are strongly encouraged to attend the rehearsals of works of their peers, and of other repertoire being presented at the festival. Each participant will receive a recording and video of the performance of their work. The deadline for receipt of the finished score is May 20, 2024.

How do I apply?

In addition to filling out the online application, composers must submit two works of any instrumentation for evaluation, accompanied by a MIDI/mp3 recording. These supplemental materials should be sent to ad.soundscape@gmail.com. Accepted composer applicants will be notified of the details of their commission on a rolling basis.

More questions?
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