Finding Your Voice

The Greatbatch School of Music is committed to fostering the active participation of gifted and well-trained Christian composers in the life of contemporary society, inside and outside of the Christian community. To that end, we offer a program of study for composers of demonstrated talent and accomplishment who aspire to excellence in the writing of music of various types, including symphonic and chamber music, opera, and other instrumental and choral/vocal works for the concert hall and/or the church, as well as music for film, television, and other media.

Admission to the Master of Music program in composition is highly selective. Candidates are expected to have completed a bachelor of music degree in composition, or have an equivalent level of compositional ability as demonstrated by a significant portfolio of original works. Substantial proficiency on a major instrument is required.

Program Objectives

Each student will be encouraged:

• to explore a wide variety of compositional techniques and methods, with an eye toward further developing strong compositional craft.
• to develop a personally unique compositional style or language.
• to consider stylistic eclecticism as the dominant compositional ethos of the postmodern world.  At least some compositional assignments will deliberately demand the learning of new musical languages.
• to become involved in the activities of professional compositional societies.
• to articulate a personal plan of action concerning establishment as a composer within Christian worship and fellowship communities, as well as to consider and articulate any unique contributions of music composed from a Christian worldview to wider musical and cultural communities.