Impulse New Music Festival seeks collegiate to early-career composers to apply for its 2026 summer program. Selected composers will write a new work for one of our Festival Chamber Trios or ensemble-in-residence, Brightwork (pierrot + percussion), study with composition faculty, work directly with musicians of the assigned ensemble, and have their work premiered at the 2026 Festival Concert. Tuition is $2,450 for the full summer program, $950 for the study program. Limited scholarship support may be available.
Participants will receive HQ video and audio recordings of their premiere; participate in lessons, masterclasses, workshops, and talks in our Evening Lecture Series; participate in our flagship Composer Bootcamp and our Conducting for Composers workshop; participate in talks on grant-writing and commissions, as well as Career Coaching.
The 2026 festival includes an initial session of online events, followed by a weeklong in-person residency at the world-class facilities of The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California. Housing options on-campus are available to all composers accepted into the program. The Study Program Option offers composers a chance to participate in all of these activities without the stress of writing a new work to be workshopped and premiered.
Festival Dates
- July 1-10, 2026 for Online Events
- August 4-8, 2026 in-person at The Colburn School, Los Angeles
Eligibility
- 18 years of age or older
- Applicants must be able to legally travel to and participate in live events in the United States starting August 2026.
Application Materials
- 2 work samples
- Personal statements
Recording Rights
Composers have the rights to use audio and video for their personal website, portfolios, and applications for academic and professional programs, awards, grants, and commissions. Recordings can not be monetized, released or otherwise distributed commercially without express written consent and agreement with the INMF Board and faculty artists recorded.