As a composition major, you will gain a foundation in traditional Western art music, while having the opportunity to explore jazz, electronic music, film scoring, and other media. In addition to having individual lessons with our award-winning faculty, you will have the opportunity to work with renowned composers through our Karel Husa Visiting Professor of Composition series. While taking courses such as orchestration, counterpoint, and arranging, you will hear your music performed by highly skilled musicians on a regular basis. Each year, composers such as John Corigliano, Christopher Rouse, George Crumb, Chen Yi, William Bolcom, and Alvin Singleton present master classes, critique student works, and give lectures on their own work.
Composition (B.M.)
Reminder: Audition Required
Interested in applying to this degree program? Remember that an audition is required for full admission consideration.
Along with our broad-based approach to composing, you can take advantage of the College’s other reputable programs. The School of Communications film students are constantly seeking student composers to score their films; performers in the musical theater program are available to perform student composers’ works in that medium; and the recording technology program provides access to students and facilities, resulting in excellent recordings of your music. To facilitate all this, there is a large technology laboratory, a technology workroom designed just for composers, two electronic music studios and several sound studios.
Our alumni include film composers working in Los Angeles and composers for the stage in New York City. Our students also find themselves perfectly positioned to continue their studies in graduate programs in institutions such as Harvard, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Chicago.