Music Composition offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as minors in Composition and Electronic Music Composition. The program provides significant performance opportunities, a supportive environment, and guidance that fosters each composer’s growth while encouraging individuality and personal expression through music.
About the Program
Diverse areas of expertise and interests represented among the faculty allow students to find the guidance they need to express their individuality through their music. Through collaborative projects and studies in traditional concert music, film music, improvisation, and advanced modern compositional techniques, students are exposed to an ever-changing array of music.
The composition program is a community that fosters cooperation between its students and faculty. Through once-a-week composition seminars, students and faculty members have the opportunity to discuss each other's music and to hear music by visiting composers. Special projects offered throughout the academic year provide composers with meaningful opportunities for experiential learning through performance.
Undergraduate Programs in Composition
Admission, Audition, and Degree Requirements
Undergraduate applicants must submit two or three examples of your work with the application. These will be reviewed ahead of your scheduled audition day by the composition faculty. They will use these compositions as the basis for the conversation that develops during your interview.
In addition to an interview with composition faculty, all undergraduate composition applicants are required to perform an instrumental or vocal audition in one of 3 distinct categories: Classical Instruments or Voice, Jazz, Commercial Music, each having its own specific guidelines. The audition ensures that the applicant is at a level sufficient to fulfill the performing ensemble requirement of Hartt's composition curriculum.
For more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.
Composition Minor
This 18 credit minor is open to all Hartt bachelor of music students who wish to deepen their musical creative experience and enhance their knowledge of compositional techniques and aesthetics.
Electronic Music Composition Minor
The undergraduate minor in Electronic Music Composition is open to all Hartt B.Mus. students, including Hartt Composition majors, who want to deepen their musical creative experience and enhance their knowledge of creative music technologies, and electronic/electroacoustic compositional techniques and aesthetics.
Graduate Programs in Composition
Through regular one-on-one instruction and seminar courses with their peers, graduate students continue to develop their compositional voices through the free exchange and application of ideas.
Admission, Audition, and Degree Requirements
Graduate applicants must submit two or three examples of your work with the application. These will be reviewed ahead of your scheduled audition/interview day by the composition faculty. They will use these compositions as the basis for the conversation that develops during your interview.
All new, incoming graduate students will take placement exams during the week of orientation to determine the appropriate course of study and whether subject review courses are necessary.
Visit the Course Catalog for more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements for the Master of Music, Graduate Professional Degree, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Artist Diploma.
Electronic Music Composition Minor (M.M)
The graduate minor in Electronic Music Composition is open to all Hartt MM students, including Hartt Composition majors, who want to deepen their musical creative experience and enhance their knowledge of creative music technologies, and electronic/electroacoustic compositional techniques and aesthetics.
Composition Minor (DMA)
The graduate minor in Composition is open to all Hartt DMA students who want to deepen their musical creative experience and enhance their knowledge of compositional techniques and aesthetics.
Composers Seminar
All composition majors attend the weekly seminar, in conjunction with the Institute of Contemporary American Music (ICAM), which features lecture presentations and recitals by guest composers, performers, and others who are active in the contemporary music field. Such noted composers as Milton Babbitt, Anthony Braxton, Susan Botti, Earle Brown, John Cage, Elliott Carter, Javier Colon, Steve Coleman, Aaron Copland, Anthony Davis, Paul Hindemith, Nathalie Joachim, Aaron Kernis, Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, Ralph Shapey, Tyshawn Sorey, Michael Torke, Joan Tower, Lois Vierk, and Melinda Wagner have been featured as a part of the ICAM series.
Career Ready
Hartt Alum and Broadway Music Orchestrator John Clancy '96 talks about Opportunities at The Hartt School
Composition Faculty
Music Composition
Shuying Li
Bachelor of Music, 2013
Shuying Li is currently on the faculty at Shanghai Conservatory, and director/conductor/ composer for the Four Corners Ensemble. In addition, Ms. Li has had her work performed by Foot in the Door, Hartt's contemporary music ensemble and the Hartt Wind Ensemble. Learn more about Ms. Li.
Hartt was my first home when I first came to the United States. The tremendous support and great opportunities I received from the most important mentors of my life shaped me greatly as an artist and as a human being.