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School of Music
497 Glidden Hall
Athens, Ohio 45701
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Master of Music in Composition
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Master of Music in Composition

What You’ll Learn

The graduate degree in music composition at Ohio University is a comprehensive program. In addition to offering specialized training in music composition, the degree provides students with the strong, well-rounded education in music required to achieve success as a composer.

  • Students have the opportunity to hear their music read, performed, and recorded by School of Music ensembles as well as guest ensembles that have recently included Trio Fibonacci, Quince Ensemble, Patchwork Duo, Tower Duo, and Transient Canvas. sOUndings concerts (composition department recitals) provide valuable opportunities for young composers to hear their chamber music performed as well as learn the skills to organize their own performances.
  • Students will interact with a diverse array of guest composers every year in live and virtual visits. Recent composers include Shih-Hui Chen, Kurt Stallmann, Jennifer Jolley, Patrick Chan, Evan Williams, Matthew Evan Taylor, Jamie Leigh Sampson, and many more.
  • The electronic music curriculum will give students the skills to be a 21st century composer and realize their ideas for sound in fixed and live interactive compositions using electronics. The School of Music houses the Music Technology Lab and Surround Sound Lab which give students access to the two primary software programs taught, Logic and Max/MSP in addition to a host of plugins from GRM Tools and other developers. The Music Technology Lab is a 12-station space with each station equipped with a 20” iMac, midi keyboard, and software. The Surround Sound Lab features an 8.1 JBL speaker array, Yamaha TF3 Digital Mixer, a 27” iMac, 10 channel Tascam interface, midi keyboard, Røde, Shure, and SE microphones, no-input mixers, and a Moog theremin. We host 2-4 concerts of electronic music per year in our CLICK concert series that often features guest performers and composers allow students to hear the most recent and exciting music in the genre.
  • Students will collaborate across different artistic disciplines with other students in film, dance, and creative writing. In addition, students will have the opportunity to have their compositions recorded by students working in the School of Media Arts Recording Studio.

Career Opportunities

Graduate composition majors will receive specialized instruction and mentoring related to teaching, interviewing, creating recordings, developing a website, and taking advantage of myriad external performance opportunities.

Want to Hear Our Music?

You can visit the Ohio University Composition’s Soundcloud to hear compositions by current and recent composition majors.

Applying to the Program

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In addition to completing the standard application for admission to the university, applicants to the master's degree program in composition are required to submit a portfolio of scores and recordings (pdf, mp3) that best demonstrate their ability as a composer. They must also include a short essay in which they discuss their career goals as a composer and why they are interested in pursuing a master's degree in composition.

Graduate Degree Interview Requirements

An interview, rather than an audition, is required for this degree program. This interview should be arranged by contacting the faculty below.

Connect with Us

If you'd like more information about the music composition program, reach out to Dr. Robert McClure.