Go Compose North America offers online workshops and opportunities for young composers.
Check out our new Academy
or scroll down to discover how you can
join us and get involved!
Fiscally Sponsored by
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS
"The craft of making music — along with being kind to people — it's the most important thing there is."
Oliver Knussen
About Go Compose North America
Go Compose North America cultivates creativity among young people, right at the beginning of their journey of musical discovery. We introduce our participants to fun, new music, and we encourage them to experiment with established and innovative ways to express their own unique voices. Our programs nurture a new generation of diverse musical creators.
We offer music education programs and musical development opportunities to participants of all abilities, and our offerings are always expanding! Our mission is to make music creation accessible to anyone.
Go Compose North America was first created to provide innovative online musical experiences to school-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and resultant school closures. Our intensive workshops, led by professional composers and performers, engage young people from all over the world.
Our audience is growing, but our focus remains a safe and secure online environment for participants in both workshop and performance settings. Our primary concern is our students’ safety within a nurturing environment.
Director
“I haven’t understood a bar of music in my life, but I have felt it.”
Igor Stravinsky
Upcoming Events
In-Person Workshops in Baltimore
We are excited to announce that we are planning our first ever in-person workshops! Details are being finalized so keep checking back for updated details!
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Baltimore, MD
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Fall 2023 - Dates TBC
"This Wonderful Community"
A Thank You Letter from Erin:
"I just wanted to thank you for all of the work and effort you put into Go Compose. These workshops have been the highlights of my year and I always leave them feeling encouraged and energised! Thank you so much for helping me grow as a composer and learn about new musical techniques and ideas. I’m so grateful that I’m able to be a part of this wonderful community that you guys have created!"
"I didn't ever decide I was going to be a composer. It was like being tall. It's what I was."
Richard Rodney Bennett
About the Academy
In the music world, having a community of friends, colleagues, and mentors is important. For young composers this can be difficult to find, especially with the changes caused by the global pandemic.
The Go Compose North America Academy hopes to cultivate community by enrolling its first cohort of young composers as a class that meets five times during the school year for weekend workshops.
Individual Composition Lessons
Participants have the opportunity to sign up for individual composition lessons. Lessons take place twice per month from October to May at times mutually convenient to the instructor and student.
Academy Dates & Scheduling Information
October 7-10, 2022
December 2-5, 2022
January 27-30, 2023
March 24-27, 2023
June 9-12, 2023
*Times may vary. Options available for students with conflicts and students residing in time zones outside of ET.
Fridays: (5:30-7pm ET)*
Saturdays: Full Day (10am-4pm ET)*
Sundays: Full Day (10am-4pm ET)*
Mondays: (5:30-7pm ET)*
Composition Tutor
"There is nothing greater than the joy of composing something oneself and then listening to it."
Clara Schumann
In the Classroom
We’re excited to launch this program of online workshops in your classroom! These workshops are completely customizable and designed to fit your school’s needs.
Here’s how it works:
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Set a schedule that works best for your school. We can schedule multiple sessions, but we suggest a 2-hour minimum per session.
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You choose the video platform that works best for your school (e.g.: Zoom, Google Meets, etc).
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Specially selected professional composers and performers are beamed into your school!
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Music notation experience is not required, only curiosity and creativity!
To find out more, to discuss your options, or to book a workshop, email info@gocomposenorthamerica.com
"To study music, we must learn the rules. To create music, we must break them."
Nadia Boulanger
Go Compose North America for Educators
Go Compose North America has several exciting programs for young composers. But what if you’re a teacher? Good news! We now offer professional development, just for you!
Our workshops are fun, interactive, and online. We offer resources and act as a sounding board as you explore music making opportunities. Workshops will include opportunities to compose new music, and some will give you the chance to hear that music performed. Every program offers tools and takeaways to further your own teaching - in any subject!
For more information or to book a session with us, email info@gocomposenorthamerica.com
"I don't compose,
I assemble materials."
Aaron Copland
We've been doing fun things!
Go Compose North America ACADEMY 22/23 ended in June with our final workshops of the (school) year where participants started work on creating music for an animated short. We are so excited to see the final results! Other projects this year have included collaborating and writing for one another, compositions for Vibraphone, Harp, and an introduction to counterpoint through the composition of a two-part piece for Piano.
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We visited Calvert School in Maryland for a second time in October 2022. Four Go Compose North America tutors beamed into the classroom from Maryland, New York, and Florida, to work with another group of middle-schoolers, aged 10-12!
This year's projects were composed for cello or piano. We had a wonderful time hearing the ideas and music of these great new composers!
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We have completed our first Go Compose North America ACADEMY 21/22 with our students composing amazing compositions for Percussive Cello, Bass Clarinet, Voices & Bells, Jazz Trio, and Dancer. We are so proud of the work they have done and are happy to say to many of them have continued to participate in the 22/23 Academy!
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Our first ever In the Classroom session took place in October 2021 at Calvert School in Maryland. Four Go Compose North America tutors beamed into the classroom from Maryland, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts to work with a group of 13 middle-schoolers, aged 10-12!
The workshop included instrument demos and a composition project based on line, color, and timbre for flute or cello. The students asked tons of questions and created some amazing music that everyone enjoyed.
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Our Summer Festival 2021 was also a huge success. Over the course of three weeks in August, we hosted six intensive workshops for composers aged 11-18. We also had fun at our week-long mini camp for younger participants, aged 7-10.
We were so excited to include an interactive series of conversations between established musical professionals - composers, concert producers, and publishers - and young composers, entitled When I was your age. The Festival also included three Saturday mini recitals, performed by our faculty members. Additionally, Go Compose North America was featured at the New Music Gathering, which took place in Minnesota and online!
Support Go Compose North America
If you’re excited by what we do and would like to support us, consider making a donation! We welcome donations of any amount through our donations page on Fractured Atlas. Consider sponsoring a participant, a workshop in a school, or talk to us about other ways we can turn your generosity into music! To discuss these specifics, write to us at info@gocomposenorthamerica.com.
Go Compose North America is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Go Compose North America must be made payable to “Fractured Atlas” only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
