The Young Composers Project

The Young Composers Project is a collaborative program between Music in the Mountains and the Nevada County Composers Cooperative. It kicks off early in the school year with youth from 5th grade through college. The program consists of both Saturday classes and private lessons throughout the school year with teachers Mark Vance and Toon Vandevorst. The program consists of 2 divisions, Beginner/Intermediate and Intermediate/Advanced. Both divisions include weekly private lessons with the Instructor.

YCP curriculum covers theory, harmony, counterpoint, conducting, sight singing, dictation, music history, listening, public speaking, creating a resume and more. Students present a mid-year recital of their original compositions for voice and one instrument of choice in January, at the New Songs for Midwinter concert. The program culminates in June with the Young Composers Concert. At this concert, student works are premiered by professional musicians as part of MIM’s SummerFest.

Applications for the 2013-2014 program will be available in late July, 2013. 

This education program is funded in part by The Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, The California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.