Music Composition at Lawrence University is a comprehensive and collaborative pre-professional training program in composition and theory that emphasizes frequent performances of students' instrumental and vocal chamber music.

Develop a deep theoretical foundation along with core musicianship in a curriculum that will accelerate your growth as a composer. Private lessons, courses in orchestration, counterpoint, analysis and contemporary compositional techniques—along with exceptional opportunities for orchestral and large ensemble readings—will prepare you to go confidently into your life after Lawrence.

  • Creating your own music in various styles or with different mediums
  • Exploring different methods of composing throughout history
  • Hearing your compositions performed lived by chamber ensembles or large ensembles
  • Communicating through the language of music
  • Composing pieces that you and your friends can perform at your senior recital
  • Music theory
  • Music performance
  • Music education
  • Mathematics
  • English
  • Psychology
  • An instrument in one of our applied studios (required)

Life After Lawrence

Lawrentians can enjoy careers in...

Composition, direction, live performance, entertainment, music production, education (elementary, secondary and higher ed), television and film scoring

Recent employers & commissions include...

Altius Quartet; Americorp; Colorado New Music Ensemble; The Foundry Academy; Holland America Cruise Line; Luther College; Ogilvy; Timber Lake Playhouse; Toledo Symphony Orchestra; Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra; Yale University

Lawrentians can earn advanced degrees in…

Music, music theory, musicology, composition, law, sociology, anthropology, education, medicine

At places like...

Boston University; Bowling Green State University; Duke University; Harvard University; University of Michigan; Princeton University; Yale University

Showcase your creations.

One of the great strengths of the program is our emphasis on performance. You will compose a large variety of instrumental and vocal chamber music and present frequent public performances of your music during Composition Studio Recitals and you may be selected to compose a work for performance by one of the conservatory’s large ensembles.

Distinguish yourself with fellowships and awards.

Majors have received accolades from a variety of organizations including the Watson Fellowship, the prestigious Akademie Schloss Solitude International Masterclass in Germany, DownBeat Magazine and the Emmy Awards. A recent graduate received the 2017 DownBeat Student Music Award for “Outstanding Original Composition” in the undergraduate category for his large ensemble composition.

Find your own path, with thoughtful guidance.

The mark of a great teacher is that their students all turn out very differently. This will be your experience of the Lawrence faculty. They care deeply about the individuality of their students. With their mentorship, your peers can accomplish everything from composing and recording an opera to writing music for Balinese gamelan instruments.

Meet world-class musicians on campus.

Lawrence was the proud host of the 2017 International Double Reed Society convention. Some of the most prolific musicians in the world were under Lawrence’s roof for one week of workshops, master classes and performances. A recent composition major even had the opportunity to commission a mass double reed ensemble piece for the convention.

Components of the Major

Music and Analysis (5 terms)

Aural Skills (5 terms)

Sight Singing (5 terms)

Keyboard skills (or demonstrated proficiency)

Western Music History I & II

One advanced musicology course
Applied music individual instruction

At least two terms of ensemble performance study

Ensemble participation every term in Appleton

Fundamentals of Composition

Nine terms of composition courses
 Techniques of the Contemporary Composer

Topics in Electronic Music
One course in counterpoint

One upper-level course in theory and analysis

Orchestration

Conducting Principles 

Course descriptions and more courses

The Chandler Senior Experience

The Senior Experience in composition consists of a recital (approx. 40 minutes) of original compositions and a portfolio of scores and records of works composed while at Lawrence. You will get to show variety in musical style, compositional technique, and artistic conception.

Recent Senior Experiences include:


• Pieces written for and performed by the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles

• Recitals and portfolios of original music

 
Schism
Schism - Nic Bizub
The Lawrence Minute - DownBeat & Fulbright
The Lawrence Minute - DownBeat & Fulbright

Faculty

  • Joanne Metcalf
    Joanne Metcalf Profile Picture
    Associate Professor of Music
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6875
    Education: University of California-Santa Barbara, B.A.; Duke University, M.A., Ph.D.
    Interests: music composition
    Campus Address: Conservatory of Music West Room 208 Conservatory of Music
    Website: http://www.joannemetcalf.com
    Years at Lawrence: 2001-
  • Asha Srinivasan
    Asha Srinivasan Profile Picture
    Associate Professor of Music
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6874
    Education: Goucher College, B.A.; Peabody Conservatory of music-John Hopkins University, M.M. University of Maryland, D.M.A.
    Interests: Acoustic, electronic, and multi-media composition; collaboration with other arts
    Campus Address: Conservatory of Music West Room 103 Conservatory of Music
    Website: http://www.twocomposers.org/asha
    CV: http://
    Years at Lawrence: 2008-
  • Matthew L. Turner
    Matthew L. Turner Profile Picture
    Instructor
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6951
    Education: B.M. Lawrence University, 1989 M.M. New England Conservatory of Music, 1991
    Interests: Improvisation, Jazz, Composition, Music Education, New Music, Avant-Garde, Experimental Music
    Campus Address: Shattuck Hall of Music Room B-35 Conservatory of Music
    Website: http://www.improvcellist.com
    Years at Lawrence: 2010-

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