Boston Conservatory at Berklee High School Composition Intensive
Boston Conservatory at Berklee High School Composition Intensive is a two-week program designed to challenge and engage students who are serious about music composition. Young composers will receive individualized lessons and coachings from acclaimed faculty and guest artists who will help them build a toolbox of techniques essential to developing a compositional voice. This includes:
Learning how to write quickly and effectively
Acquiring rehearsal techniques
Developing communication skills for collaborating with professional musicians and colleagues
Receiving feedback on revising scores
By the end of the program, each student composer will have developed a portfolio of three works that includes properly notated scores and accompanying audio recordings, performed by the program’s professional ensembles in residence. Students will leave the program with greater confidence in their skills and creativity as composers.
"High School Composition Intensive is such a fantastic experience that connects young composers with performers, something that is vital when learning how to write music. I always advocate for composers to get acquainted with instrumentalists, and Boston Conservatory's High School Composition program really achieves this."
Charles (Former High School Composition Intensive Participant; Finalist Award Winner, National Young Arts Awards)
Previous guest instructors for the program have included Victoria Cheah, William Cooper, Jim Dalton, Marti Epstein, Stephen Halloran, Marc Hoffeditz, Eun Young Lee, Cynthia Van Maanen, Marc McAnneny, and Kirsten Volness.
Recent visiting ensembles have included the Semiosis Quartet and Worcester Chamber Music Society.
How to Register
Students interested in registering for this program should prepare the following materials:
PDF scores of two original compositions
Two links to audio recordings of your compositions. MIDI-based performances are acceptable if a live recording is not available. Your submissions should be three to five minutes in length.
