Get Involved

Get Involved

Composers & Schools partners with youth music ensembles of all kinds—mixed groups, orchestras, wind bands, choirs, jazz combos, rock bands, rap collectives, and more—to bring bold, tailor-made projects to life that align with each school’s unique vision. Whether it’s scoring for films and games or crafting concert masterpieces, we’ve done it all.

Since its founding in 2011, Composers & Schools has stood at the crossroads of performing arts and music education, bridging the gap between professional composers and young musicians. By creating real-world learning experiences, we help students explore the dynamic world of music creation and performance.

With a national presence, Composers & Schools has collaborated with over 95 schools across 35 states, bringing leading contemporary composers into classrooms to mentor and inspire the next generation of musicians, creators, and advocates for music.

Workshop Program

Our custom workshops empower young people as creators, offering students and teachers innovative experiences in music composition. These workshops can range from a single class to an entire semester or academic year. Participants benefit from guest speakers, industry mentors, performances, and collaborative projects. We aim to inspire and equip students to create art while building their creative skills, deepening their understanding of the creative process, and expanding their artistic capacity. Professional teaching artists from the music industry serve as the primary educators and mentors throughout the program.

Commission Program

Our Commissions in Concert program connects a professional composer with a youth ensemble (grades 8–12) to collaboratively create and premiere a new musical work. Over one semester, the composer works closely with the students, mentoring them in contemporary music techniques, styles, and skills. The ensemble then debuts the piece in a world-premiere performance, with all ticket-sale revenue supporting the youth music program.

This program is tailored to ensembles of all types and embraces various musical forms, including notated and non-notated scores, film and app scoring, improvisation, and more. Whether your students meet online, in person, or through a hybrid format, we’ll design a project that aligns with their curricular goals.

What Composers & Schools Provides

✔ Customized Programs
We design programs that engage students in contemporary music composition techniques and skills while aligning with national core arts standards.

✔ Professional Composers
Our composers are carefully vetted to ensure they can work effectively in educational settings and are matched to your school’s specific needs.

✔ Seamless Integration
Programs are structured to fit smoothly into your school’s existing schedule, with rehearsals and learning sessions designed for efficiency.

✔ Comprehensive Support
We handle program oversight, project management, contract administration, payment processing, and post-project assessments to ensure a successful experience.

✔ Premiere Performance Support
For the commission’s debut, we provide:

• Professional audio or video recordings by our engineers.
• Program notes for the concert.
• Promotion of the premiere through press releases, social media, and media pitches.

Fees

Workshops
Workshop fees are tailored to each project based on factors like program length, composer residency, and travel. Contact us to design a program that fits your budget and curricular needs.

Commissions
Choose from two commission models:

• Single-School Commission: Starting at $2,200 for a 2-minute piece.
• Consortium Commission: Starting at $550 per school.

Fees vary depending on factors such as travel, score duration, and project complexity. Contact us to customize a project for your school.