Composition at YSM

With an internationally acclaimed faculty and diverse performance opportunities across the Yale campus, the composition program at the School of Music attracts students from around the world. 

Composition students’ pieces are showcased frequently by fellow YSM students in recitals, in chamber groups on the New Music New Haven series, in orchestral performances by the Yale Philharmonia, in interdisciplinary settings at Yale's Center for Collaborative Arts and Media, and beyond. Distinguished guest composers visit the School regularly to meet with students in the composition seminar. 

In recent years, School of Music alumni have won Pulitzer Prizes and Grammy and Grawemeyer awards, and have served as composers-in-residence with a variety of orchestras, festivals, and other organizations. 

Composition seminars

2023-2024 Seminars

Seminars that are open to the public are indicated with an asterisk. All open seminars are at 2:30 pm in room 106, Stoeckel Hall.

Please direct any questions to Martin Bresnick, Charles T. Wilson Professor in the Practice of Composition.

9/14 YSM new students

9/21 YSM new and returning students

9/28 YSM returning students

* 10/5 YSM Katie Balch

10/12 YSM post-concert

* 10/19 YSM Armando Bayolo (not open to public)

* 10/26 Katie Balch & David Lang

* 11/2 Natacha Diels 

11/9 YSM post concert

* 11/16 Viet Cuong

* 11/30 Fernando Buide

12/7 YSM (orchestra seminar) (NMNH 3)

12/14 YSM post concert

1/18 YSM post concert

* 1/25 Chris Theofanidis & Aaron J. Kernis

2/1 Open

* 2/8 Kathryn Alexander, Konrad Kaczmarek 

2/15 YSM post concert

2/22 YSM Auditions, no seminar

* 2/29 Erin Gee

* 3/7 David Sanford 

3/28 YSM post-concert

4/4 Open

* 4/11 David Lang & Martin Bresnick

4/18 Open (NMNH 6) - YSM alumni return, Pre-concert at Mory’s*2

4/25 YSM post concert

5/2 YSM final seminar