Composition Program

The New York Summer Music Festival offers a comprehensive two-week composition workshop for young composers.

The program focuses on writing concert music and the performance of new works, as well as computer music notation, orchestration, and discussion of contemporary music.

The Composition Workshop also includes advanced music courses, composition classes, and private lessons.

A recorded concert featuring composition students’ works will take place at the conclusion of each two-week session.

COMPOSITION WORKSHOP: FEATURES

The composition program includes the following:

• Daily composition workshop, plus classes in Counterpoint and Orchestration/Arranging.
• Weekly 1-hour private composition lessons
• Professional level readings and performances of students’ concert works by NYSMF faculty and staff.
• Access to NYSMF’s computer facilities, equipped with Sibelius composition software. If you prefer to use your own computer, you may bring it and connect in the labs yourself.
• Opportunities to participate in all other NYSMF programs, classes, ensembles, etc.

Pieces must be composed before arrival and may be scored for up to four instruments. Any combination of 1 of each of the following instruments is acceptable: flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, percussion.

APPLYING TO THE COMPOSITION WORKSHOP

Applicants for the composition program must submit the following materials ALL AT ONCE, in a single envelope or a single email. Applications arriving piecemeal are very difficult for us to process!

• NYSMF Application Form, Application Fee, and Teacher Recommendation.
• 1 to 3 printed scores of recently written music that you feel best demonstrate your abilities as a composer.
• Recordings of these scores. Live performances are preferred, but MIDI realizations are acceptable.
• Short Essay (300 words of less) describing what you would like to work on and study at NYSMF
• List of teachers, performances, professional recognition
• Optional, but strongly recommended:
  • Autobiography
  • Additional background information
  • Letter of recommendation from a composition instructor

Please send all application materials, including your regular NYSMF application. to the following address:

NYSMF
att: Composition Workshop
PO Box 947
Oneonta, NY 13820

Alternatively, you may use our online application to register immediately, and then email your materials to application@nysmf.org. Please make sure any and all written attachments are in PDF or TXT format so we may be sure to be able to read them.