Composition Weekend
Do you write music? Join the Desautels Faculty of Music's composition professors as they lead aspiring composers through a day-long workshop that introduces them to important concepts in music composition and shows them how to use the tools of the trade!
The 2023 Desautels Faculty of Music Composition Weekend will be held on October 21, 2023.
Music Composition Weekend
On October 21, 2023, we invite Grade 11 and 12 students to join us for our annual Music Composition Weekend to learn about the composition program at the Desautels Faculty of Music.
Do you write music? Did you know that the University of Manitoba has a program dedicated to music composition? You have the chance to try it out for a day- for free! Space is limited, so register early!
Attendees will meet the professors who teach composition in the Desautels Faculty of Music: Gordon Fitzell and Örjan Sandred, as well as some of our Master of Music students; and a community of high school students interested in composition!
Attendees will also learn about the Desautels Faculty of Music's Bachelor of Music (BMus.) in Composition program. Composition students apply to the Desautels Faculty of Music composition program via the direct entry route, submitting a portfolio of work they have already composed.
This composition workshop is a great way for students to create the first piece for their portfolios!
Music Composition Weekend schedule
- 9:30 am: Welcome and introductions
- 10:00 am: Presentation by Gordon Fitzell
- 10:30 am: Presentation by Örjan Sandred
- 11:00 am: Individual lessons
- 12:00 pm: Lunch (A pizza lunch will be provided to attendees).
- 1:00 pm: Individual lessons
- 2:00 pm: Reading session of new compositions
- 3:30 pm: Recording session of the compositions
*Schedule may change prior to Composition Weekend.
More about the day
How do I participate?
Registration is now open. Space is limited, so register early, using the registration form at the bottom of this page!
Do I need to compose music already?
We invite you to write a short composition for unaccompanied solo cello and bring it with you. A composer from our graduate composition program will look it over with you in a free private lesson. At the end of the day, one of our best student cellists will try it out and you will receive a recording of your piece! If you don’t want to bring a composition, you can also participate by listening to the talks and sitting in on the “reading session” (i.e., listen to the cello pieces that others brought with them).
What else is happening at Composition Weekend?
There will be a few short presentations on key topics related to music composition and we will talk about how to study composition.
Who will I meet?
You will meet Gordon Fitzell and Örjan Sandred, the professors who teach composition at the University of Manitoba. You will also meet some of our composition and performance students, and other high school students interested in composition, just like you!
That seems like a full day. What about lunch?
We've got you covered with a free pizza lunch!
