About Us

Composers and Schools in Concert (CSIC) is a nationwide arts organization dedicated to supporting music education and the creation of contemporary music. We engage teenage students in the philosophies, techniques, and skills of contemporary music composition through culturally responsive composer commissions and workshops for youth ensembles.

By connecting professional composers with student ensembles, we occupy a unique space in the music and performing arts communities. Together, we create new repertoire for educational settings and provide learning experiences that reflect the practices of the professional music industry.

Our Vision

At Composers & Schools, we believe innovative ideas flourish in educational settings. Collaboration is at the heart of our work—between artists and educators, and between educators and students.

We champion experiential learning for teenage music students and celebrate the creation and discovery of contemporary music. By centering culturally responsive teaching, we place students’ voices and identities at the forefront of every project.

Our goal is to empower students by connecting their cultural identities to meaningful creative projects. This approach helps build repertoire and curricula that reflect their passions while keeping the arts strong and vibrant in our communities.

Our History

Since our founding in 2011, Composers & Schools has introduced thousands of students across the United States to the many styles of contemporary music-making. Through workshops and custom composer commissions for youth music programs and ensembles of all skill levels, we’ve played a vital role in music education nationwide.

To date, we’ve:

• Served 5,264 students in 95 schools across 35 states.
• Partnered with 48 professional composers to mentor and inspire the next generation of musicians, creators, and music advocates.

We’ve brought leading composers into classrooms, including Frank Ticheli, Marcus Shelby, Alex Shapiro, Brian Balmages, Omar Thomas, Martha Mooke, Scott Watson, and Garrett Hope to name just a few who have helped to inspire the next generation of music makers.