UMKC Composition Workshop: June 19-24, 2016
Composers will broaden their horizons and hone their craft in this mix of classes and small group sessions with UMKC Conservatory faculty. This exciting, intense week-long experience helps young composers find their creative voices while improving their musical skills and joining the community of composers and new music lovers. Participants’ compositions are critiqued and discussed with distinguished faculty, allowing each composer to grow artistically while creating new music.
Throughout the workshop, composers participate in discussions of notation, music theory, orchestration and music aesthetics. Participants listen to, analyze, and discuss the music of our time as well as the great achievements of the past. Small group sessions with mentors provide participants with valuable one-on-one feedback as they stretch their compositional abilities and creativity to meet new challenges. Evening concerts featuring innovative programming by guest performers including Michael Hall, Megan Ihnen, and newEar Contemporary Music Ensemble provide enrichment and inspiration. Composition Workshop was founded in 2010 by Dr. Mara Gibson.
Participants may register for one of two “tracks,” each focusing on a different compositional process.
Standard track (open to any age student): this track includes daily listening labs, faculty lectures, masterclasses, instrumental technique and reading sessions led by performers, composing time (with mentorship) and concerts featuring works by faculty composers, featured performers and others. Improvisation sessions will also be incorporated into track activities.
Pedagogy track (open to graduate students only): in addition to the activities included in the standard track, this track will provide overviews and group discussions of composition teaching methods, capped by multiple composition teaching opportunities with younger composers under the mentorship of Composition Workshop faculty. Improvisation sessions will also be incorporated into track activities.