Composers Across Borders

Outstanding compositions will be given consideration for performances in the United States.

The composition program will be offered for young and young professional composers and arrangers with an interest in improving their skills and knowledge in composition, arranging, orchestration and contemporary music literature of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The central focus of the program is the completion of an assignment of a 2 to 5 minute piece for any combinations of strings (or string orchestra) and/or guitar or piano. This composition assignment will be given in advance of the start of the program.

Completed compositions will be rehearsed and performed in class by faculty, recorded on video and several of the most successful compositions will be selected for public performance at the final concert. Outstanding compositions will be given consideration for performances in the United States.

Built upon the success of the Lebanon and Iraq Young Composers Initiatives from 2012 to 2016, the 2017 program continues to be the only international summer training program available for young Middle Eastern composers and is funded by the Sinquefield Charitable Foundation.

Derek Beckvold

Young Iraqi composers at the YES Academy, Iraq, 2017. Composer Derek Beckvold leads the Composers Across Borders in an analysis of music by Bela Bartok. 

Iraq Composers

The composition of YES Academy Iraq 2017. 

YES Academy Lebanon

YES Academy Lebanon, 2017. Composer Forum with Dr. Patrick Clark. 

YES Erbil 2017 - Composition Program

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