Master Class Program
Individual Studies Program
Film Scoring Program
The Jacob Druckman Award for Orchestral Composition
ASCAP Foundation Fellowship for Film Scoring and Composition
The Denver Young Artists Orchestra Award for Orchestral Composition

The Susan and Ford Schumann Center for Composition Studies offers three distinct programs for composition studies, designed to meet the needs of talented students of different interests.

For all composition students, Aspen offers an unparalleled opportunity for an exchange of ideas with some of the world's foremost composers and performers of contemporary music. Students may observe guest composers performing their established repertoire and world premieres, as well as consult with them on performance problems of works in progress. Student composers will also have the opportunity for public readings of their approved works in scheduled recitals, orchestral readings, or with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble.

All students are encouraged to participate in the music-related courses offered by the AMFS artist-faculty and staff. In addition, AMFS offers courses in body awareness, including Alexander Technique. College credit is available for some courses. For a full list of course offerings, please click here.

Master Class Program (Half Session I, 6/23-7/25)
Christopher Rouse, Composer-in-Residence
Steven Stucky, Composer-in-Residence

Up to six students will be accepted to participate in composition studies in a master class format. All participants will receive a full fellowship. There will be readings of student works by the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Orchestra. In addition, pieces composed for the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble will be rehearsed and publicly performed.

Participation is limited to those accepted through the application process. Students accepted into the Master Class Program should complete a five- to seven-minute piece prior to their arrival in Aspen utilizing all or part of the instrumentation of the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble (flute/piccolo/alto flute, clarinet/Eflat clarinet/bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, and percussion). Composers who have been accepted into this program in any previous year are not eligible to apply.

How To Apply to the Master Class Program
All items to be submitted together. All materials, including recordings, will not be returned.

• Due Date: November 30, 2009 (Apply early for discounted application fee.)
• All items must be submitted together:
  • Completed application (The financial aid portion of application is not required of Master Class Program applicants.)
  • Application fee
  • One set of scores
  • One CD of two recent works
  • Current résumé
• Be sure all items on the Application Checklist have been completed.
  

Note: Students may only apply to one of the three composition programs offered at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

In addition to the above requirements, students are strongly encouraged but not required to send two letters of recommendation, which may be used in the scholarship process.

Individual Studies Program (Half Session II, 7/26-8/22)
Sydney Hodkinson, Composer-in-Residence
George Tsontakis, Composer-in-Residence

This program provides student composers with an intensive one-on-one learning experience. Students will have weekly private lessons, master classes, and joint seminars. In addition, there will be readings of approved works with string quartets, woodwind and brass quintets, and mixed chamber ensembles. Orchestral readings by the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Orchestra will be given as space allows.

Accepted students will complete a short composition prior to arrival in Aspen for an approved instrumentation selected for string, woodwind, brass, and vocal chamber ensembles, which will be presented in one of two Harris Concert Hall recitals.

All applicants will be eligible for scholarship consideration. Two fellowships will be awarded to students in the Individual Studies Program and will be chosen from the general pool of applicants. For more information on fellowships, click here.

How To Apply to the Individual Studies Program
All items to be submitted together. All materials, including recordings, will not be returned.

• Due Date: November 30, 2009 (Apply early for discounted application fee.)
• All items must be submitted together:
  • Completed application and financial assistance application
  • Application fee
  • Two sets of scores
  • Two copies of a CD of two recent works
• Be sure all items on the Application Checklist have been completed.
  

Note: Students may only apply to one of the three composition programs offered at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

In addition to the above requirements, students are strongly encouraged but not required to send two letters of recommendation, which may be used in the scholarship process.

Film Scoring Program (Half Session I, 6/23-7/25)

Thomas Haines, Director
David Newman, Visiting Artist-Faculty
Jeff Rona, Artist-Faculty
Jack Smalley, Artist-Faculty

The Susan and Ford Schumann Film Scoring Program provides a theoretical and technical training in film scoring in an intensive four-week session. This unique learning environment supplies students with the necessary skills required to pursue a career in the film industry and related music technology fields.

The participating composers will focus on scoring two large orchestral cues during the program. The American Academy of Conducting at Aspen orchestra will record a large orchestral cue in Harris Concert Hall near the end of the session. The other cue will be produced using a hybrid mix of sampled orchestra sounds and recordings of live solo performances. The breadth of these two production types ensure that the composers will not only be given substantial technical information but, more importantly, significant practical experience through varied scoring practices.

Composing for film relies heavily on computers, digital technology, producing audio recordings, and mixing techniques in addition to broad knowledge of music composition. Our digital composition studio is the center of the production process. The studio uses Logic Pro sequencing software, Sibelius music notation software, Pro Tools recording software, and a host of other technologies as integral components of the film scoring process.

The program begins with an intense technology workshop during the first three days of the program then consists of master classes conducted by one of our artist-faculty. These classes and demonstrations cover a wide range of topics from the study of classic film scores, theme development, extended composition techniques, orchestration, timing cues, studio recording and producing, to creating computer mock-ups.

A limited number of students (no more than five) are accepted to the program to allow participants ample time to compose and to become proficient with our studio technologies. The program admits graduate level composers to this unique learning experience. Applicants are expected to be proficient in orchestration and computer notation software with an intermediate level of competency in MIDI sequencing and digital audio workstation production. The program does not require any specific prerequisite courses or training. However, preference may be given to applicants with extended compositional and/or technical background.

Courses
All students are encouraged to participate in the music-related courses offered by the AMFS artist-faculty and staff. In addition, AMFS offers courses in body awareness, including Alexander Technique. College credit is available for some courses. For a full list of course offerings, please click here.

How To Apply to the Film Scoring Program
All items to be submitted together. All materials, including recordings, will not be returned.

• Due Date: November 30, 2009 (Apply early for discounted application fee.)
• All items must be submitted together:
  • Completed application and financial assistance application
  • Application fee
  • One set of scores
  • One CD of two recent works
  • Current résumé
• Be sure all items on the Application Checklist have been completed.
  

Note: Students may only apply to one of the three composition programs offered at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

In addition to the above requirements, students are strongly encouraged but not required to send two letters of recommendation, which may be used in the scholarship process.

THE JACOB DRUCKMAN AWARD FOR ORCHESTRAL COMPOSITION

Each year, the Aspen Music Festival and School awards a prize in memory of the American composer Jacob Druckman, a longtime member of our composition faculty. The award recipient receives a performance of the winning work the following summer by one of the AMFS orchestras on a regularly scheduled program in Aspen. Works are judged by David Zinman, music director of the Aspen Music Festival and School.

How to apply:
Registered students who completed any 2009 AMFS composition program are eligible for this prize. They must submit one work roughly eight to twelve minutes in duration and scored for any orchestral ensemble up to the maximum full standard symphony (woodwinds in threes with customary doublings, brass 4331, timpani, three percussion, harp, piano/celeste, and strings). Works for string orchestra are also acceptable.

Scores should be sent before September 30, 2009 to:
Attn: Mary Rechlitz
Aspen Music Festival and School
2 Music School Rd.
Aspen, CO 81611