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.

“Beyond Bars” Creating ‘Non-Traditional’ Scores and Parts

December 11, 2023
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Featured Speakers: Curtis Stewart and Jannina Norpoth 

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 Artistic Director Curtis Stewart will dialogue with Jannina Norpoth on how to successfully traverse this growing corner of new music. 

Shoot Your (Ear)Shot: Stories and Guidance on Applying to EarShot Readings

October 6, 2023
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Featured Speakers: Amy Nam and Ahmed Al Abaca 

EarShot Readings are the first systemic program connecting composers with orchestras, providing the unique opportunity to rehearse and interact with large ensembles in a way that many composers never have. This webinar, featuring two previous EarShot Readings participants, will offer insights on the application process and outcomes of this program.

Media Rights & Unions Workshop: Fine Print

April 5, 2023
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Featured Speakers: Alecia Lawyer and Corey Field

Named by Musical America as one of classical music’s Top 30 Influencers for 2015 and a Lorée oboe artist in 2019, Texas native, Alecia Lawyer, is the Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Oboist of ROCO, a professional music ensemble that flexes from 1 to 40 musicians from around the US and Canada, including guest conductors from around the world. Corey Field is a professionally trained composer who is better known as a prominent entertainment, media, and copyright attorney at his Los Angeles based law firm Corey Field Law Group, P.C. They bring their multifaceted expertise to this webinar to highlight the importance of understanding and abiding by current regulations related to unions, media rights, and more.

Creating Relationships with Orchestra Webinar: Away from the Writing Desk and into the World

March 22, 2023
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Featuring speaker: Lisa Bielawa

Composer, producer, and vocalist Lisa Bielawa is a Rome Prize winner in Musical Composition whose works have been described as “ruminative, pointillistic and harmonically slightly tart,” by The New York Times, and “fluid and arresting … at once dramatic and probing,” by the San Francisco Chronicle. She joins ACO to guide a conversation and offer insights on the importance of building relationships with orchestras, and how to begin to do so.

Commissions & Consortia Workshop: Put Me On

March 1, 2023
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Featuring Speaker: Corey Field

Corey Field is a professionally  trained composer who is better known as a prominent entertainment,  media, and copyright attorney at his Los Angeles based law firm Corey Field Law Group, P.C. In this collaboration with ACO, Corey will unpack some of the need-to-know information surrounding orchestral commissions and the creation of consortia for composers.