Experimental/avant-garde composition music schools

Hi everyone,

I am a high school junior and I am looking for composition programs that are on the experimental side (or a program that has a variety of styles including the more experimental style). I am mainly looking for music schools embedded in larger universities but conservatories will still be considered. It would be very helpful if someone could add some schools to my list or provide some relevant information about these schools.

Here is the list of schools I have right now:
Oberlin (although I have heard that they are moving toward the mainstream in recent years)
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Rice University
NEC
Boston University
Umich

Here is some information about myself:
I am an international student from China.
I have been studying composition with a private teacher for about 2.5 years. I uploaded some of my works to Youtube:
https://youtu.be/tBqVpE3pI4o
https://youtu.be/rQBSE5k-5WQ
https://youtu.be/4pr8mUd-90E
Some of my favorite contemporary composers are Rebecca Saunders, Lei Liang, Gérard Grisey, Tristan Murail, Philippe Hurel, Beat Furrer, György Ligeti, and Helmut Lachenmann.

Thank you in advance!

Oberlin, Northwestern, Bard, McGill, Boston Conservatory, Eastman, SUNY Purchase, Peabody, Manhattan. Some of these schools have new faculty,

You are quite sophisticated in your tastes and your compositions.

We felt that diversity in student works was an important factor in choosing a program, which would appear to mean students had some freedom to pursue their own “voice.” I think you are right in that.

Lei Lang teaches at UCSD, which would be a great choice for you for grad work but I don’t know how undergrad is.

One possibility you might consider is getting a BA instead of a BM. Your music would interest schools like Columbia, Princeton, Harvard, Yale all of which might offer what you want for undergrad. Vassar, Tufts, Williams, a few other liberal arts schools as well.

For a BA program you could major in music or major in something else and still have lessons, and performances of work. For the long term, it is sometimes beneficial for composers to study literature/poetry, visual arts and other areas of study that an inform and enhance your work. But some want total immersion and live and breathe music. Whatever works for you.

For grad school you will need 3-4 pieces, Whether you go for a BM or BA program, summer programs can be enormously helpful. Beat Furrer, Rebecca Saunders and Lei Lang teach in summer programs, as do many other composers you might want to meet. Usually summer programs offer performances by well-known and/or talented musicians with recordings. (You may have already done some!)

Have you read the Double Degree Dilemma essay posted closer to the top of this forum? It describes the different ways to study music. Your options are BM, BA, double degree BA/BM, double degree BA/MM, double major within a BA, major/minor within a BA, and double major within a BM. As I wrote before, another option is a major in something else and continuing with music via lessons and performance.

Check out faculty and curricula. If you want 2/3-3/4 classes in music, a BM is for you.

If you apply for a BA program in a college or university without a music school, such as the Ivies, you would submit a music resume with recordings, music resume, and letter(s) of recommendation from teacher(s).

It looks like you play your own piano pieces. Your piano talent will help with admissions but your compositions will definitely get you some attention.

I’ll PM you.

ps Have you considered Europe? Graz? The Hague? UK? Germany? Just a thought.

I have deleted the youtube videos due to safety issues. If anyone is interested in them, please feel free to pm me so I can send you the new links.

Would second the recommendation for Northwestern: Bienen’s New Music Program is awesome - composition, orchestral, and vocal music components all top notch.

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