Composition

Curtis believes composers thrive when they approach the intersection of tradition and innovation with an open mind, growing their individual musical language with a learn-by-doing approach.

With unparalleled performance opportunities and a strong culture of team teaching, the Curtis composition department encourages its students to lean into their individual passions and idiosyncrasies. Every Curtis composer works with all members of the composition faculty; if a composer chooses, they can elect to do additional intensive work with one faculty member each semester.

Every Curtis composer receives a fully rehearsed premiere with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra each year. Students can expect to have their chamber works performed often on the Curtis Recital Series and in other school-sponsored recitals from the beginning of their time at the school.

The composition department maintains commissioning opportunities for its students both within Curtis and with outside partner organizations. Composers can elect to present a graduation recital at the end of their time at Curtis, devoting an entire evening to a program of their work. All Curtis performances are recorded in both audio and video by Curtis’s world-class engineers.