CCPA - Chicago College of Performing Arts

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Composition Program
Prospective Students

Degree Programs
Application/Audition Information
Scholarships and Assistantships
Frequently Asked Questions
Guest Composers
Chicago's Musical Organizations

Degree Programs

Composition - Bachelor of Music

Projected Course Outline

The program in composition requires 129 semester hours. It is designed to develop technique and an expressive voice in students with creative ability. Students are required to have at least one work performed in a student composition recital each year. To be admitted to the upper division, the student must have completed MCMP 211-214 with a minimum grade of B in each class, and should have completed the musicianship sequence. The student will also submit a portfolio of works, including scores, recordings, programming, or other media for review by the department. During the senior year, the student will present a recital of original compositions including program notes. The recital must consist of at least 40 minutes of music representative of the student’s work in the program and approved by the primary composition instructor. Grades of A or B are required in all 300-level MCMP courses. The grade of D in any 300-level course in the department is considered a failing grade.

Coursework leading to the Bachelor of Music degree in Composition (subject to change)
For a printable version, click here.

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Composition - Master of Music

Projected Course Outline (subject to change)

The student who wishes to work on this degree must have completed a bachelors degree in composition, or prove that he or she has commensurate experience. Prospective majors must be approved by the Department Chair and the Composition Faculty. In addition to the required classes, masters students must present a recital of their own original compositions, including program notes, of at least 30 minutes of music and at least two works. All music on the recital is to be written during the student’s residency at CCPA. The program for the recital must be approved by the primary composition teacher no later than six weeks in advance of the recital date. The candidate for the Master of Music in composition must compose a thesis. The thesis must be a 10-12 minute work for large ensemble, a 15-20 minute work for large chamber ensemble, or a 15-20 minute electroacoustic work. The thesis composition may be programmed on the recital. Two copies of the full score of the thesis (or recordings and programming if appropriate) must be submitted to the student’s committee by April 1 for spring graduation or November 15 for fall graduation.

Coursework leading to the Master of Music degree in Composition (subject to change)
For a printable version, click here.

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Application/Audition Information

Students who wish to apply to the Composition program should complete the application (click here for instructions), submit the portfolio, and arrange for an interview (click here for dates). On-campus interviews are required for students within 500 miles of Chicago, and are highly recommended for all others. The priority deadline for fall admission is January 15, although applicants may be considered after that date. Portfolio requirements are as follows:

Undergraduates should submit scores and, where possible, recordings for at least two original works, preferably composed for different performance media (for instance, a violin and piano duo, woodwind trio, or string quartet). One composition may be an electro-acoustic work. Neatness and legibility of scores will be considered.

Graduates should submit scores and, where possible, recordings for at least three substantial original works, preferably composed for different performance media (for instance, a chamber ensemble work, choral piece, or orchestra score). Up to two compositions may be electro-acoustic works. Neatness and legibility of scores will be considered.

In addition, both undergraduates and graduates are required to submit two letters of recommendation by persons familiar with your work, a summary of your musical experience thus far, and a statement of your professional goals.

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Scholarships and Assistantships

All applicants are considered for scholarship based on the application, portfolio review and interview. (U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents must complete the FAFSA form in order to be considered.) Special awards are also available:

2008 Composition Scholarship
This annual scholarship awards one composer with a $10,000 annual scholarship for full-time study in the composition program at Chicago College of the Performing Arts. The award is based on the student’s composition portfolio, academic record, and interview. All students who apply to the composition program will automatically be considered for the scholarship. U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents must complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible for this (or any) scholarship. CCPA reserves the right not to award the scholarship if there is not an applicant of suitable merit.

2008 Graduate Half-Assistantships
Students applying to 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), Musicology (1), Choir (1), Orchestra (2), and Opera (1). For more information, download the application here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What types of pieces should I submit with my application, and how many?
Undergraduates should submit scores and, where possible, recordings for at least two original works, preferably composed for different performance media (for instance, a violin and piano duo, woodwind trio, or string quartet). One composition may be an electro-acoustic work. Neatness and legibility of scores will be considered.
Graduates should submit scores and, where possible, recordings for at least three substantial original works, preferably composed for different performance media (for instance, a chamber ensemble work, choral piece, or orchestra score). Up to two compositions may be electro-acoustic works. Neatness and legibility of scores will be considered.
In addition, both undergraduates and graduates are required to submit two letters of recommendation by persons familiar with your work, a summary of your musical experience thus far, and a statement of your professional goals.

• How often will I have composition lessons?
All undergraduate and graduate students receive one hour private lessons with their composition professor. The exception is undergraduates in their freshman year, during which all of the freshmen take a group composition class with one of the composition professors.

• Are there performance opportunities at the CCPA for me to hear my music?
There are four annual student composition recitals in which you can have your works programmed (students are in charge of finding their own musicians for performances on these concerts). In addition, there are annual orchestra and wind ensemble reading sessions for students who write larger works. Many of our graduate students have their masters thesis read in these reading sessions. There is also a Chicago-wide composer festival that is held annually between six local universities, which programs music from composers from all six schools. Finally, all students in the composition program give a composition recital of their own music in the final year of their degree program.

• What electro-acoustic music facilities do you have?
The two Electro-Acoustic Studios at the CCPA facilitate computer assisted composition and computer based composition with algorithmic and deterministic audio mixing/editing and generation. Students also work with various hardware based projects including analog and digital synthesizers, basic recording equipment and a DJ station. Please contact Professor Don Malone at dmalone@roosevelt.edu for further information.

• Are scholarships available?
All applicants will be considered for Music Conservatory scholarship, which is based on the submitted musical scores, academic performance, and financial need. Any domestic student who wishes to receive scholarship must file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by February 1 (www.fafsa.ed.gov). Students are notified of any scholarship award in the admission letter. Based on the results of the FAFSA, federal financial aid may be available in the form of loans, grants, or work study.

• Are there graduate assistantships available in composition?
The composition program maintains one assistantship position. This graduate student assists in running composition program activities. Additionally, there are three music theory assistantships. All assistantships provide half-tuition plus a living stipend. Please contact Dr. Garrop at sgarrop@roosevelt.edu regarding the composition assistantship, and Dr. Marcozzi at rmarcozzi@roosevelt.edu regarding the music theory assistantships.

• What have recent students gone on to do?
Many of our students continue their education by entering masters and doctoral programs at other universities. Recent graduates have proceeded on to Peabody Conservatory, New England Conservatory, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Northwestern University. Other students go directly into the world to freelance as composers or to teach.

• I am unsure of living in such a big city. Where do students live, and how do they get around the city?
Many of our undergraduate and graduate students live in one of our two dormitories: the new, state-of-the-art University Center, and the Herman Crown Center. Undergraduates under 21 are required to live in the dorms their first two years. Students who wish to live “off campus” find housing throughout the Chicago area in such neighborhoods as Oak Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and Evanston.
Parking in Chicago can be prohibitively expensive; however, the city has excellent transportation services. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has numerous bus and train lines that virtually cover all of Chicagoland. All full time students are required to purchase a CTA U-Pass each semester. This pass covers all CTA bus and train costs for the entire semester (normally, it costs $2.00 per ride on a CTA bus or train). Please visit CTA’s website at http://www.transitchicago.com/ for detailed information on bus and train routes. In addition, students who live further away from the city may be able to utilize Metra, another train service. Check Metra’s website at http://www.metrarail.com/ for further information.

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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