Composition
Contact
Carter Pann
Professor of Composition
carter.pann@colorado.edu
303-492-2173
, C127
We seek artists who are looking to expand their knowledge and experiences in sound, regardless of whether they have a music degree or formal education in music—including:
- songwriters, commercial musicians, producers and interdisciplinary artists seeking to expand their craft in new and innovative directions;
- concert music composers and performers seeking to expand their expression in new directions;
- electronic musicians seeking new tools and pathways for expression; and
- musicians who may not have written for live instruments, but who want to develop that skill.
We support these artists through:
- access to instrumental and electronic resources including orchestras, professional guest ensembles in residence, BLOrk (Boulder Laptop Orchestra), Boulder Altitude Directive ensemble, wind ensembles, choirs, jazz musicians and more;
- close collaboration with the ATLAS Institute, an interdisciplinary institute for radical creativity and invention;
- coursework in Electronic Music Production, Max/MSP, Supercollider, Orchestration, Electronic and Acoustic Instrument Design, Brain-Body Music Interfaces, Theory, Musicology, Deep Listening, Recording and music-related topics across campus including theatre, dance, filmmaking, etc.;
- access to performance and recording spaces such as the B2 Center for Media, Arts & Performance and numerous in-house concert venues;
- access to non-Western music ensembles including our West African Highlife Ensemble, Japanese Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble and Gamelan Ensemble;
- the composition department’s very own contemporary music concert series— Boulder SoundWorks;
- paid commissions for students to create new works for various performing ensembles;
- opportunities to write fully-staged scenes for the New Opera Workshop ( NOW); and
- a supportive, creative environment of students and faculty making their own unique music and projects in a gorgeous setting.
Degree programs
What is the student experience like?
Graduate Teaching Assistantships
We offer teaching assistantships in Theory, Electronic Music and Composition to MM and DMA students. These assistantships:
- cover the cost of graduate tuition and mandatory student fees;
- provide a stipend to help with living expenses; and
- offer the ability to opt in for Boulder’s Gold Comprehensive Health Insurance.
Application info
To apply, we encourage you to submit:
- three to four of your best works (inclusion of scores accepted but not required);
- audio (recording, MIDI, etc.) and/or documentation of each of your works (including video, code or any other relevant materials);
- a personal statement detailing your goals and aspirations for your time at Boulder and why you are interested in joining our community; and
- three letters of recommendation.
Note: While submitting an additional diversity statement is optional, you must submit a diversity statement to be considered for the Graduate School’s Graduate Diversity Fellowship.
Learn more about application requirements and the application process
Upcoming composition events
Meet the artistic director + learn about the college’s concert series-meets-forum.
HOCKET performs 14 miniatures by Boulder composers.