|
| Undergraduate Program | Doctoral
Program |
The Composition Program is among the most vibrant and progressive in the country,
featuring internationally recognized faculty members who are regularly performed
by top  orchestras, chamber ensembles, and soloists throughout the world.
Because of the program’s emphasis on individuality, the student body is impressively
diverse, representing a wide range of stylistic interests, techniques, notations,
performance venues and audiences. The school’s Michael
Ludwig Nemmers Prize in Music Composition provides a special dimension
to the program, as prizewinners – thus far John Adams and Oliver Knussen – spend
four weeks on campus, closely interacting with students and faculty.
Students draw upon the excellent resources of the School of
Music, comprising premier researchers and performers, and a
music library that houses the largest collection of post-1945
music in the world. Students are also encouraged to take advantage
of the many assets of the larger university community, which
provides opportunities for collaborative and experimental work
and research in other disciplines. Off campus, the thriving
cultural community in Chicago offers students a full complement
of theater, dance, art, and music, the latter ranging from
jazz to experimental to standard repertoire by the Chicago
Symphony and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
New music plays a vital role in Northwestern’s musical
life. In addition to six concerts by the Contemporary
Music Ensemble, the orchestral, band, and choral programs regularly
present contemporary repertoire, most recently works by John
Adams, Elliott Carter, Olivier Messiaen, Steve Reich, and Frank
Zappa. Additionally, the New Music Northwestern concert
series features performances by visiting soloists and ensembles
of national and international reputation.
Degrees for undergraduates comprise the B.M., and an alternative
B.A. option, as well as double degree and ad
hoc (self-designed
degree) programs. Graduate students pursue the DM program and
may enter either after the completion of a masters degree or,
for especially gifted students, after earning an undergraduate
degree.
For the Composition program admission requirements, see the
Related Links in the righthand column.
[ Back to Top ]
Undergraduate Program
The Composition faculty believes that a successful composer
is not merely a master of craft and technique, but rather someone
with a broad curiosity and knowledge in diverse fields across
the arts, sciences, and humanities. An intensive composition
curriculum is paired with the broad academic and cultural resources
available at an elite research university.
Degree Options
Students construct a flexible course of study that best matches
their musical and career goals. Most students pursue
the B.M., a professional degree, but a liberal arts-oriented
B.A. is also available. Many composition majors take
advantage of the double degree
program, that pairs a degree
in composition with a second degree in the arts and sciences,
journalism, or engineering; the ad
hoc, or self-designed degree;
or a double major within the School of Music, such as the pairing
of a major in composition with one in performance.
Course Offerings
In addition to a comprehensive sequence of core music courses,
composition majors take classes in orchestration, counterpoint,
and analysis, as well as multi-disciplinary electives in music
technology, music cognition, and musicology. Courses
in the humanities and sciences are chosen from an extensive
list of options in six broad subject areas.
Composition majors regularly take cutting-edge, upper-level
courses alongside composition graduate students in subjects
such as Extended Techniques, Minimalism, Composing for Dance,
Experimental Music, and Free Improvisation. Additionally,
all students participate in the Composition Colloquium, a weekly
forum where students and faculty present and discuss their
current work. The Colloquium regularly hosts guest composers
of international renown, such as John Adams, Harrison Birtwistle,
Pierre Boulez, John Corigliano, David Lang, Helmut Lachenmann,
and Tristan Murail.
Performance Opportunities
The performance of student compositions is a central focus
of the program. Numerous opportunities exist for collaborative
work with graduate and undergraduate performance majors, both
in solo and ensemble settings, including
- three Student Composer Concerts per year
- a composer in residence program pairing student composers
with student chamber ensembles in yearlong collaborations
- concerts in conjunction with the Music Technology Program
- performances and reading sessions by the NU Contemporary
Music Ensemble
- an annual competition comprising readings by the Chamber
and Symphony Orchestras with one work selected to be performed
by either ensemble on their concert series
After Northwestern
Many graduating seniors have been awarded fellowships and
assistantships at the nation’s leading graduate programs in music. Alumni
currently hold faculty positions at a number of colleges and universities;
others work as conductors, performers, music critics, composers
of commercial music, or in administrative positions in
chamber ensembles and orchestras; and still others go on
to graduate school or employment in a variety of fields.
For undergraduate admission requirements, see the Related
Links in the righthand column.
[ Back to Top ]
Doctoral Program
Students in this program are strongly supported in their efforts
to build not only technical proficiency but also a unique and
original musical voice. As a result, they are surrounded
and enriched by colleagues of a wide diversity of perspective.
All students are actively assisted in developing relationships
with professional soloists and ensembles outside of the University
setting, both locally and internationally.
The composition program provides significant support to students
for the purposes of travel and logistics for performances,
research, and other professional development activities. Funding
level is based on merit of the project, with 10-20 proposals
funded each year.
Admittance to the doctoral program generally occurs after
the completion of a master’s degree, but, in special
cases, students enter following the completion of an undergraduate
degree.
Performance Opportunities
The performance of student compositions is a central focus
of the PhD program. Opportunities include
- three Student Composer Concerts per year
- performances and readings by visiting artists, who in recent
years have included eighth Blackbird, ICE, Robert Black,
Mario Caroli, Robert Dick, Graeme Jennings, Seth Josel, Marilyn
Nonken, Ian Pace, and Stefano Scodanibbio
- performances and reading sessions by the NU Contemporary
Music Ensemble
- an annual competition comprising readings by the Chamber
and Symphony Orchestras with one work selected to be performed
by either ensemble on their concert series
- 200+ solo and chamber ensemble recitals presented annually
by performance students
Course Offerings
- traditional counterpoint, orchestration, and analysis
- cutting-edge offerings on the repertoire and musical thought
of our time, such as Extended Techniques, Music
of the Last Decade, Minimalism, Composing for Dance, Experimental
Music, Musical Space, and Free Improvisation
- multi-disciplinary courses in music technology, music cognition,
and musicology that address contemporary music and aesthetics
from a variety of perspectives
- weekly Colloquium for the presentation and discussion of
student and faculty work, and that of visiting composers. Recent
guests include John Adams, Louis Andriessen, William Bolcom,
Harrison Birtwistle, Pierre Boulez, John Corigliano, Oliver
Knussen, David Lang, Helmut Lachenmann, Alvin Lucier, Tristan
Murail, Pauline Oliveros, Erik Oña, Michael Pisaro,
Bernard Rands, and Gerhard Stäbler
After Northwestern
DM program alumni have gone on to establish notable careers
as composers, performers, educators, and scholars. Their
achievements include
- performances at major international festivals including
Gaudeamus, Huddersfield, ISCM World Music Days, Donaueschingen,
SEAMUS, and Wien Modern
- courses and residencies at Darmstadt, Royaumont, Acanthes,
June in Buffalo, DAAD Künstlerprogramm, Tanglewood,
and Aspen
- performances by such ensembles as Ensemble Modern, ensemble
recherche, Apartment House, Neue Vocalisten Stuttgart, Champ
d’Action, Het Trio, ASKO Ensemble, Ensemble SurPlus,
Ictus Ensemble, Ensemble Sospeso, Ensemble 21, the Bozzini,
Diotima, and Kairos String Quartets, and numerous soloists
- teaching positions at colleges and universities throughout
the U.S.
For graduate admission requirements, see the Related
Links in the righthand column.
[ Back to Top ]
|
