Composition

Overview

The Eastman Composition Department is devoted to teaching students who wish to pursue a professional and/or academic career in concert and computer music composition.  We have no stylistic  or sectarian agendas; our goal is to help students learn to write the music that inspires and interests them.

The Composition program of University of Rochester is designed to foster high achievement in the performance of music as well as broad intellectual development. A final professional performance degree for many students, the MM requires 30 credit hours of study beyond the bachelor’s degree, with at least two semesters of study in residence. Students are offered up to four semesters in faculty studios and performance ensembles to complete the MM.

A crucial component in the education of a composer is to hear his/her work performed.  Composition students at Eastman have many opportunities to hear their works presented in a variety of performance settings.  There are many built-in opportunities in the program, such as the Composers Forum, Composers Sinfonietta, Orchestral, Wind Ensemble, and choral readings, as well as vast possibilities afforded by the intense concert life of the school, including concerts sponsored by the student-run new-music organization Ossia, student recitals, school ensemble concerts, and much more.  Thanks to this wealth of performance resources, students are able to pursue those compositional projects that best meet their individual developmental needs, and thus take control of their artistic path and growth.