Composition - Summer Festivals

<p>I finish my undergraduate this June and would really like to get into a Summer Festival across the pond (I am British) and would appericate any advice on getting an good application together. I particular need to show I am worth accepting since I will need to be funded (I don't have a family and I think my bank managers eyes would explode if I requested a bigger overdraft.)</p>

<p>I had a recommendation from a past student at Brevard and I am keen to put in an application there but I, of course, don't want to put all my eggs in one basket and want time, in case I can't fund such a trip to apply to some minor courses over here (later deadlines.)</p>

<p>Thanks in Advance.</p>

<p>Aside from the well known programs such as Tanglewood, Bowdoin, and Aspen, check out California Summer Music. They have scholarships specifically for bringing over musicians/composers from overseas. Last summer they had three Czech musicians. The composer age range is from high school to grad school and after. No idea who the guest composer in residence will be this year...</p>

<p>That's a help, I will look it that course. Thanks.</p>

<p>You could take a look at the New York Summer Music Festival (NYSMF) in Oneonta, NY. You might be able to swing a work/study arrangement as a counselor or Teaching Assistant. Even if you don't get a scholarship, it's very reasonably priced. A lot of the faculty comes from the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, plus different music schools throughout NYC.
The composition program is supposed to be pretty good, gets lots of repeat customers.</p>

<p>(nysmf.org)</p>

<p>Brilliant, keep them coming. I just got hit by a large unexpected expensive bill which will eat away at any funding I can put forward myself but I am so determined to attend a summer festival this summer.</p>

<p>Does anyone have ideas on the actual application side of things? How I can put in a good application as apose to one from someone unfamilar with summer festivals etc?</p>

<p>I have another question - the NYSMF, for example, has a six week festival but is split into three sessions and you can apply for one or all session. Do the sessions, in festivals which do this, repeat?</p>

<p>welshie, if you haven't already seen them, here's a few threads that may give you some detail:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/371572-summer-programs-composition.html?highlight=summer%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/371572-summer-programs-composition.html?highlight=summer&lt;/a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/358868-summer-festival-program-reports.html?highlight=summer%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/358868-summer-festival-program-reports.html?highlight=summer&lt;/a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/423339-summer-programs-2008-a.html?highlight=summer%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/423339-summer-programs-2008-a.html?highlight=summer&lt;/a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/478123-free-summer-orchestra-programs.html?highlight=summer%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/478123-free-summer-orchestra-programs.html?highlight=summer&lt;/a> Some of these have some composition aspects, but I can't recall detail. You may want to pull the sites up for those you're not familiar with and look through what's available.</p>

<p>Not necessarily what you want for duration, but look at the UNL Chamber Music program. It's only a week long, but is full fellowship and geared to small ensemble. May work if you need to fill a dead week. A unique aspect is that they pair a student composer with an ensemble, and they work together for a week. It's under the auspices of the Chiara String Quartet, a set of rising stars carving their niche. Son was there in '05 or '06 as a violist, and he said the caliber was amazing, grad ensembles from Yale, Juilliard, Indiana/Jacobs.</p>

<p>Thanks Violadad, I will enjoy having a read though those. </p>

<p>If I am coming the US it would have to be a decent duration in my one place. I am really broke as it stands so this is like a distant dream unless I am heavily funded or find a job. However, in the current climate, that latter is unlikely since I have been looking for months.</p>

<p>(Sorry to double post)</p>

<p>To those who have had experince with putting forward a portfolio - how did you go about creating you portfolio of works? what length were they? etc</p>

<p>NYSMF does not repeat programming, as each two-week session is its own cycle. You will have a new teacher for each session, who will do his/her own thing.</p>

<p>Go to the NYSMF website and get in touch with Keisuke, who will be the one answering your email inquiries. He can tell you what you need to know.</p>

<p>Right thanks. I just hope I can work out the money side of things, that's the real hitch in my summer plans.</p>

<p>Well I have been through various websites etc and I have decided I am applying to Brevard, NYSMF and California Summer Music. Funny enough these aren't free, or anything close to free but they are the ones I liked the sound of and I have the chance to get funding or work/study roles within the festivals so I am going to give it a try. I am also going to step up my efforts to find work here.</p>

<p>Its a bit limiting only applying for three but I can't really afford to be applying here, there and everywhere.</p>

<p>Try Yellow Barn in Vermont.</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestion but I'll be 22 in June so high school programs are out.</p>

<p>They have two programs. One is a full fellowship for young professionals. Check that out, not the young artist program.</p>

<p>I agree, the Yellow Barn site can be confusing, and in years past the fellowship info was often not obvious. Don't confuse this with the high school program.</p>

<p>I've looked into Yellow Barn myself, they don't seem to have a Composition program in the fellowship program.</p>

<p>Can I confirm then that there is no college program at Yellow barn? The last few messages have confused me!</p>

<p>Posted in error.</p>

<p>Here's a link to the Yellow Barn application for the summer festival (not the Young Artists Progrm). <a href="http://www.yellowbarn.org/uploads/files/YB_app_09.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.yellowbarn.org/uploads/files/YB_app_09.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There is nothing specific as to offering composition, nor does the list of 2008 festival attendees Yellow</a> Barn Music School & Festival show a composition subhead.</p>

<p>It appears that composition is not a part of the program geared to undergrads, grads, and emerging pros, but if you want to make sure, email or call the contacts on the website.</p>