Applications due February 15
About the program:
The Emerging Composers Intensive (ECI) at Hidden Valley is an important extension to the conservatory education that aims to complete a young devoted composer’s skill set on the path to a professional career. ECI’s environment and teaching focus on the crucial connection between individual creativity and effective collaboration by having young composers work closely with both composition and performing faculty throughout their writing process. The program builds a basis for young composers to form a lifetime of successful synergistic collaborations through writing, interaction, and relationships.
Ages: 18 – 31
Faculty:
Composition:
- Amy Beth Kirsten, Composer & Composition Faculty at the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School
- Alistair Coleman, Composer-in-Residence of Young Concert Artists
- Wang Jie, Composer & Composition Faculty at CUNY Brooklyn College
Media and Public Speaking:
- Fred Child, Host of Performance Today
Performance:
- Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, violin & head of performing faculty – Music Director of New Asia Chamber Music Society
- Eunice Kim, violin – Soloist and Violinist at Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
- David Samuel, viola – Violist of the Alexander String Quartet
- Mihai Marica, cello – Artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
- Drew Petersen, piano – Recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and American Pianists Award
- Moran Katz, clarinet – Member of Carnegie Hall’s Affiliate Ensemble “Decoda” and the Copland House Ensemble
- Koni Choi, harp
Artistic Partners:
Program details:
- A series of three workshops on the art of effective collaboration, including instrumental and repertoire studies led by the composition and performance faculty in preparation for their first-draft deadline on April 15.
- Two private lessons with members of the composition faculty. These lessons will prepare composers to continue working toward the second draft submission on June 1.
Summer Activities in Carmel, CA (In-Person; June 27 – July 7, 2025):
Participants will engage in:
- Three rehearsals/workshops of their work guided by the faculty.
- Private lessons with each composition faculty member to revise their work in advance of a final deadline of their piece mid-week. Seminars with composition faculty members.
- Drop-in sessions with performance faculty to get advice on their work from a performers’ perspective.
- Professional training workshops about presentation, public speaking, career preparation, and network building.
- Final concerts of the composers’ works paired with existing chamber music repertoire at Hidden Valley Music Seminars’ concert hall that are professionally recorded
- All participating composers will receive a professionally recorded video and audio of these performances.
Post-Intensive Exposure:
- Performance Today will feature two composers and their works on-air in the upcoming Performance Today 2025 season chosen from an official tallying process at the end of the program following the premieres.
- The entire roster of the ECI composers will be featured on the Performance Today website.
- All other additional artistic partners will be reviewing the final performances of ECI and body of work of the participating composers to determine their own interest in exploring any potential programming and commissioning opportunities at their discretion.
Tuition & Room/Board:
The 2025 program cost is $2,250. This fee includes:
- Tuition for the entire program from March 1 – July 7.
- Room and board for the evening of June 27 to July 7 at the Hidden Valley Music campus.
- Professionally recorded video and audio of the final performance of the composer’s work written for the program.
- Publication of the composer’s scores in the Proceedings of Emerging Composers Intensive at Hidden Valley.
- Works to be reviewed by ECI’s artistic partners for potential professional opportunities
Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the program. Letters of invitation for visa applications are available for international applicants.
Application:
The program is open to young composers between age 18 and 31.
Requirements:
- 2 pieces with contrasting styles. Please include both the score in PDF form and an audio file. For audio files, MP3 is preferred, but MIDI mockup is acceptable.
- 1-2 professional references and their contact information.
- Short biography.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Artist statements describing short-term and long-term goals.
- An OPTIONAL get-to-know-you video of under 60 seconds.
Application Form
Please stay tuned for detailed information on public events between June 27 and July 7 at Hidden Valley, as well as opportunities to participate as an auditor for ECI.