Composition Program
The DMICS Student Composition Program provides an intensive and immersive experience for emerging composers looking to hone their craft, develop their professional portfolio, and make connections with composers and performers from around the world.
Program Highlights
- Students will each have the opportunity to present their work in masterclasses and composition lessons with DMICS faculty composers Texu Kim, Reinaldo Moya, Jessica Rudman, Joseph Sowa, and DMICS founder Jordan Kuspa.
- Each composer will enjoy a professional reading and recording of their original work by DMICS artists-in-residence. All pieces will be professionally recorded with audio and video and edited for students to use in their composition portfolios.
- New this year! DMICS is partnering with Studio West, San Diego’s premier recording studio, in order to record student chamber compositions at their state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring student recordings will be of the highest possible quality.
- DMICS artists-in-residence for 2025 include top new music performers from around the world, including Shannon Lee Hayden (cello), Tasha Koontz (soprano), Rosanna Moore (harp), Ginevra Petrucci (flute), Denis Petrunin (percussion), Anastasia Petrunina and Domenic Salerni (violins), and Konstantin Soukhovetski (piano).
- In addition to completing a chamber work for recording by our artists, participants will have an additional opportunity to compose an original art song or aria to be performed and/or recorded as part of our modern art song and opera workshop.
- Participants will enjoy additional classes and seminars on topics such as music career strategies, instrumentation, preparing a composition portfolio, and text setting/writing for the voice. In addition, there will be a series of classes on conducting led by Nicholas Leh Baker, culminating in a conducting workshop for all participants.
- Though the days will be busy, there will be ample time to hike Torrey Pines State Reserve, visit the sea lions at La Jolla Cove, and spend time at the beach.
Mieke
Doezema
DMICS was a fun and inspirational way to meet musicians and composers from around the country with a wide array of experience. I’ve made many connections from my time in Del Mar–some that have given me opportunities far after I left the symposium–but perhaps more importantly, I’ve gained more allies and friends than I could have imagined. Through masterclasses, rehearsals, concerts, and walks on the beach, I’ve learned quite a lot about how to be a composer and even more about how to be my OWN composer.”
Acerylio
Chen
All the faculty had very lovely music. Every single composer’s music was an inspiration in some way, shape or form for my own composing.”
James
Pecore
More than any other musical experience that I’ve attended, DMICS cares about one thing—growth. How do we grow as musicians and composers? And how can we grow together?
“Deeply devoted to the personal growth of each composer as a craftsman, DMICS focuses on each concert or recording session as less of a “final project” and more of an opportunity for growth. How does each musician feel playing each melodic line? What changes could make the score more intuitive for the musician to interpret? How do the lines of counterpoint, melodic development, timbral balance, and rhythmic consistency impact the final sonic architecture?
“DMICS Faculty Members focus on opening each student’s mind to all the possibilities for what music can be—rather than restricting a composer to a specific genre, style, or ideology.
How do you want to grow? As an artist? As a person? More than anything, DMICS will focus on elevating you to your next level, wherever you are heading next.”