Student Composition Recitals
We hold four student composition recitals a year, which feature works written by composition majors and minors. While all composition majors are required to program at least one piece per year on one of these concerts, students are encouraged to program as many pieces as they wish.
Composition Seminar
The Composition Seminar is held every Thursday evening (6:00 – 7:15 p.m.) throughout the academic year. The Seminar covers a wide variety of activities, including reading sessions with guest artists, presentations by guest composers, pre-concert talks for the student composition recitals, presentations of masters’ theses by graduate composition students, and discussions on topics relevant to the business of running a composing career.
Guest Composers
Each year, we bring in several distinguished and emerging composers who have teach composition lessons and/or give presentations on their music. Recent guests include Joseph Schwantner, Michael Colgrass, Michael Daugherty, John Harbison, Dan Welcher, Aaron Kernis, Augusta Read Thomas, David Rakowski, Chen Yi, Mason Bates, Anna Clyne, Gabriela Lena Frank, James Primosch, Lee Hyla, Joel Hoffman, Laura Schwendinger, Lowell Liebermann, Bernard Rands, Marta Ptaszynska, Claude Baker, James Mobberley, Susan Botti, Eric Chasalow, Frank Ferko, Mei-Fang Lin, Rob Deemer, Paul Rudy, Elainie Lillios, Zygmunt Krauze, Mark Applebaum, Mischa Zupko, Stephen Montague, Victoria Bond, Mike McFerron, Zach Browning, Marita Bolles, Rick Taube, Lou Mallozzi, and Hummie Mann.
Contemporary Ensemble Composition Competition
The Contemporary Ensemble Composition Competition is an annual competition and open for all students registered as a composition major in the undergraduate and graduate programs. The winning piece is premiered at the Contemporary Ensemble Concert in the following semester. The student receives a recording of the concert performance to use for non-commercial purposes.
Wind Ensemble Competition/Wind Ensemble Reading Session
The Wind Ensemble Composition Competition is a biennial competition and open for all students registered as a composition major in the undergraduate and graduate programs. The winning work is premised by the CCPA Wind Ensemble on their spring semester concert. The student receives a recording of the concert performance to use for non-commercial purposes. We also have a biennial Wind Ensemble reading session in which student works are read by the CCPA Wind Ensemble at the end of the academic year.
Solo/Chamber Composition Competition with professional ensembles and musicians
The Composition Program brings professional musicians (solo/chamber) every year. The ensemble gives two workshops, reading participating student works, and a final concert featuring the winning piece of student competition. The student receives a recording of the concert performance to use for non-commercial purposes. Our guest ensembles include the Brava Quartet, Gaudete Brass Quintet, Orion Ensemble, Accessible Contemporary Music, Zodiac Trio, Fifth House Ensemble, Lincoln Trio, as well as soloists Michale Hall, Shanna Gutierrez, Timothy McAllister, and Julia Bentley among others..
Young Composer's Competition
Visit the Young Composer Competition page for complete 2020-2021 guidelines.