Learning Lab
Each season, ACO presents a series of digital professional development sessions led by composer mentors and industry leaders. An evolving resource for composers at all stages of their careers, sessions have covered topics including orchestration, networking, publishing, copyright, orchestra unions, media rights, fundraising, public speaking, educational program design, and more.
Put Me On: Commissions and Consortia Workshop
Staff Moderator: Melissa Ngan
Featured Speakers: Vanessa Reed and Juan Pablo Contreras
There's a lot more to getting a commission and building a consortium than writing a great piece of music. In this webinar, the leaders of the American Composers Orchestra and New Music USA will dialogue with one of today's most successful composers about the ins and outs of navigating contracts, fee negotiations, and more!
Beyond Bars: Creating ‘Non-Traditional’ Scores and Parts
Staff Moderator: Loki Karuna
Featured Speaker: inti figgis-vizueta
While creating and providing standard orchestral scores and parts to orchestras is a key component of being a broadly-performed composer, more ensembles are exploring the world of graphic and improvised scores. ACO Director of Artist Equity Loki Karuna will dialogue with composer inti figgis-vizueta on how to successfully traverse this growing corner of new music.
Composing the Future: Composers and Music Education
Staff Moderator: JL Marlor
Featured Speaker: Leila Pertl
New music isn't just for adults- a growing population of K-12 students is also taking a deep dive into creative collaborations with contemporary composers! Leila Pertl, Instructor of Music Education at Lawrence University & Music Education Curator for the Mile of Music, will join ACO Education Coordinator JL Marlor to offer insights on what a successful collaboration between composers and schools looks like. This, the first of a series, will focus on middle and high school ensembles.
Tricks of the Trade: Orchestration Workshop
Staff Moderator: Loki Karuna
Featured Speaker: Curtis Stewart
Curtis Stewart has made a name for himself taking works from the past and re-envisioning them for contemporary relevance. In this session, Curtis will take musical works from the “canon” and use them as a guide to highlight key aspects of orchestration, part writing, and more.
Composing the Future: Engaging Schools and Students as a Composer
Featuring Speakers: Charlie Ortiz and Melissa Ngan
New music isn't just for adults - a growing population of grade school students are also pushing the boundaries of music creation. Charlie Ortiz, Executive Director of WHIN Music Community Charter School, will join Melissa Ngan to offer insights on successful collaboration between composers, teachers, and students.