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.
Away from the Writing Desk and Into the World: Creating Relationships with Orchestras
Staff Moderator: Loki Karuna
Featured Speakers: Allison Loggins-Hull
For most composers, developing and maintaining relationships with orchestras is a key factor toward first and repeat performances. Composer/flutist Allison Loggins-Hull will discuss the “how-tos” of making initial and repeat connections with orchestra administration and staff, sharing her experiences and guidance along the way.
Helping Hands: Traversing Artist Management
Staff Moderator: Melissa Ngan
Featured Speaker: Dan Visconti
Professional representation has helped countless artists reach the next levels of their careers, but the process of identifying and securing management can be a heavy lift for those who are unfamiliar with how to do so. This session will highlight both the ways in which representation can help orchestral composers continue their professional trajectories, and how composers can gain the attention of management agencies.
Onstage Do’s and Do’s: Rehearsal Techniques and Procedures
Staff Moderator: Loki Karuna
Featured Speakers: Leanna Primiani and John Devlin
Receiving a performance by an orchestra isn’t the end of the road for a composer, but the beginning of an ongoing relationship. This webinar will offer rehearsal techniques to composers, and will speak to how they should engage conductors, orchestras, and its musicians throughout the rehearsal process.
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.