CCPA - Chicago College of Performing Arts

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Composition Program
Current Students

Degree Programs
2006-2007 Composition Program Student Handbook
Scholarships/Assistantships
Performances, Reading Sessions, and Competitions at CCPA
Student Composers Recital
Guest Composers
Chicago's Musical Organizations

Degree Programs

Students work with their advisors to register for the appropriate classes each semester. If you have any questions about your required coursework, check first with your advisor and then with The Music Conservatory Office.

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2006-2007 Composition Program Student Handbook

Current students may download the 2006-2007 Composition Program Student Handbook by clicking here.

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Scholarships and Assistantships

All applicants are considered for scholarship at the time of admission based on the application, portfolio review and interview. Continuing students may apply for new or additional scholarship at the end of each school year. Applications are available in the Enrollment Office, generally in late March. U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents must complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible for this (or any) scholarship.

2008 Graduate Half-Assistantships
Students pursuing the M.M. in Composition may be interested to apply for any of 9 half-assistantships available at CCPA. The half-assistantship includes 50% tuition coverage, as well as an annual stipend. Assistantship areas include Composition (1), Music Theory (3), Music History (1), Choir (1), Orchestra (2), and Opera (1). For more information, download the application here.

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Performances, Reading Sessions, and Competitions at CCPA

Reading Session with the CCPA Symphony Orchestra
Spring Semester, date TBA
Room 1080, time TBA (this will be during the orchestra’s regular afternoon rehearsal time)
**Not required for all students, but attendance is highly recommended**

DUE DATE: 12:00 p.m., Thursday, March 8, 2006

Two full scores, as follows:
One double-sided and bound (not stapled or taped)
One single-sided and paper-clipped
Also turn in all percussion and timpani part scores.
Turn in all scores to Dr. Garrop (room 942)

All part scores are due at the reading session. All part scores that are longer than a page must have their pages taped together (do not staple!). We will supply you with an exact string count closer to the session so you can make the proper number of part scores for the strings.

• This opportunity is open to all currently registered composition students. Students must be registered in the spring semester in order to have a reading of their work.
• Length of work: any length up to 10 minutes (it could just be 3-4 minutes long if you wish to start experimenting with orchestral color, but don’t wish to write a whole work at this point).
• You can write up to the maximum size of the groups listed below, or write for a smaller subset, such as string orchestra with flute solo.
• Full score is to be in C.
• You MUST include an INSTRUMENTATION PAGE at the front of the score that lists the precise instrumentation and numbers of instruments you require (except for the string section). If you're writing for percussion, include a list of all required percussion instruments divided up by player (if you write for two or more percussionists). If you are unsure how to make an instrumentation page, please talk with your composition professor.

Available Orchestra:
3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo)
3 oboes (3rd doubling english horn)
3 B-flat clarinets (3rd doubling bass clarinet)
3 bassoons (3rd doubling contrabassoon)
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4 horns
3 C trumpets, with straight, harmon, and cup mutes
3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass), with straight, harmon, and cup mutes
1 C tuba, with mute
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1 timpani
3 percussion
harp
piano*
*students who want a piano MUST supply the pianist themselves
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strings (violin I, violin II, viola, cello, double bass)

CCPA Maraca Concerto Competition

The CCPA Percussion and Composition Programs are pleased to announce the 2006-2007 Maraca Concerto Competition. Ed Harrison, professor of percussion, wishes to feature a new 7-10 minute concerto for maraca soloist and percussion ensemble on the Spring 2007 Percussion Ensemble Concert. Mr. Harrison himself will be the soloist. This competition is open to all currently enrolled composition majors in the CCPA.

Submissions must include inside an envelope:
- A sheet listing the student’s contact information (name, email, phone number) and titles of submitted pieces
- 2 scores of previously written works, with recordings if available. MIDI realizations are not acceptable.
- Proposal for a 7-10 minute maraca concerto. The proposal must include specific instrumentation for the percussion ensemble. This means you need to designate not only how many percussionists will comprise the ensemble, but also the exact instrumentation for each percussionist. (There will be some flexibility to change the instrumentation should your proposal be chosen.)

TIMELINE:
• Submissions are DUE at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2006. Turn in your submission directly to Dr. Garrop in room 942. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
• Mr. Harrison will select a winner no later than Monday, December 4, 2006.
• Between January 22, 2007 and February 26, 2007, the composer will have two reading sessions of his/her work-in-progress with Mr. Harrison and the Percussion Ensemble. The composer is responsible for two full scores and all part scores for each of these sessions. The composer is to work out the dates for these two sessions directly with Mr. Harrison. The composer is welcome to audiotape these events for study.
• On Thursday, March 1, 2007, the composer must provide Mr. Harrison with THREE full scores (double-sided and bound), as well as TWO sets of part scores (one set double—sided and bound or taped, with workable page turns; and the second set single-sided and paper-clipped).
• Between March 1st and the premiere, the composer will be invited to attend rehearsals of his/her work by Mr. Harrison.
• The composer must attend the premiere of the work at the Percussion Ensemble concert. The composer will be supplied with an audiotape of the premiere.

CCPA Women’s Choir Project

CCPA is pleased to announce an opportunity specifically for students currently enrolled in the composition program. Professor Anne Heider will direct a choral concert on Tuesday, February 20, 2007. She wishes to include a new piece written by one of our composition students; the program will also include a performance of last year’s contest runner-up, “Medusa” by Hans Cardenas.

Guidelines
• The piece must be scored for either SA or SSA, and have piano accompaniment (a cappella pieces will not be considered). The composer can add other instruments in addition to a piano, but the composer will need to supply the additional instrumentalists for the premiere performance (a pianist will be provided).

• The duration must be no longer than 4 minutes.

• You can choose any text you wish, but if you choose text that is currently under copyright protection, then you must secure permission to set the text. Both Dr. Heider and Dr. Garrop can advise on sources of texts in the public domain.

• The SUBMISSION DEADLINE is 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, 2006. All scores are to be turned in to Dr. Garrop in room 942 or at the beginning of composition seminar.

• You must turn in the following:
• TWO double sided, bound scores (with cardstock covers and a comb binding, NOT stapled together). Your name, phone number, email address, and the duration of the piece are to be written on the top cover of each score.

• All students who wish to write a piece are required to attend at least THREE rehearsals of the Women’s Chorus in September and October. The attached form will be your proof that you’ve attended the rehearsals (this form will be given to you separately from this handbook). You must stay for the entire duration of the rehearsal. At the conclusion of each rehearsal that you attend, you’ll need to have Dr. Heider sign and date the form. This form must be turned in with your submitted scores on Nov. 2nd. Dr. Heider will have extra copies of the pieces being sung at the rehearsals so you can study the score as they sing.

Women's Chorus rehearsals:
Mondays and Tuesdays 2:15-3:45 pm, room TBA
Thursdays 2:15-3:45 pm, room TBA

• Dr. Heider will be available for 15 minute, one-on-one consultations for students preparing to turn in scores. These consultations should be scheduled directly with Dr. Heider; you can email her at aheider@roosevelt.edu

Reading Session with the Biava String Quartet
Monday, October 9, 2006
Room 1080, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
**REQUIRED for all students to attend** - this will be in place of seminar on 10/12/06

All students are invited to write a short excerpt or piece for string quartet.

Students who wish to take part in the session must do the following:
• write a short excerpt or piece for string quartet (violin I, violin II, viola, cello).
• duration must be 4 minutes or under.
• 10/5/06: bring FIVE copies of your completed excerpt/work to seminar – NO EXCEPTIONS – if you do not bring five copies, your piece will not be read on 10/9/06. You may make a reduced score if you wish, to save on paper (in Sibelius and Finale).
• 10/9/06: Turn in ONE full score, single-sided and paper clipped, to Dr. Choi by 10:00 a.m. – NO EXCEPTIONS

On the evening of 10/9/06, participating composers must do the following:
• arrive no later than 7:15 p.m. at room 1080.
• put part scores on the instrumentalists’ stands; make sure your name is on all the string parts.

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Guest Composers

Each year, several guest composers visit the CCPA and provide composition students with a combination of lectures, master classes, and private lessons. Recent guests include:

Jan Bach
Claude Baker
Susan Botti
Cliff Colnot
Michael Daugherty
James Gailloreto
gogmagogs
Lita Grier
Joel Hoffman
Serra Hwang
Aaron Jay Kernis
Joseph Koykkar
Eric Leonardson
Elainie Lillios
Dennis Miller
Jonathan Miller
Isabel Mundry
Zae Munn
Anthony Plog
Marta Ptaszynska
Bernard Rands
David Rakowski
John Fitz Rogers
Augusta Read Thomas
Mark Anthony Turnage
Todd Welbourne
Mark Winges
Chen Yi
Michael Zerang

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Chicago's Musical Organizations

Chamber Ensembles:

CUBE
http://www.cubeensemble.com/

Callisto Ensemble
http://www.callistoensemble.com/

Chicago Chamber Musicians
http://www.chicagochambermusic.org/

The Chicago Ensemble
http://www.thechicagoensemble.org/

eighth blackbird
http://www.eighthblackbird.com/

Fulcrum Point
http://www.fulcrumpoint.org/

ICE (International Contemporary Ensemble)
http://www.iceorg.org/

Jupiter Trio
http://www.jupitertrio.org/

Lincoln Trio
http://www.musicinst.com/performances/thelincolntrio.html

Music Institute of Chicago - Nichols Concert Series
http://www.envision-solutions.com/mic_website_nichols.htm