SongFest-Sorel Composer Mentorship Program
June 6-11, 2022

Martha Guth, Artistic Administrator, Composer Mentorship Program
Information: martha.songfest@gmail.com, songfestus@gmail.com

Program Description

The SongFest-Sorel 2022 Composer Mentorship program will be a focused week of study for five emerging early career oriented women composers on full scholarship. Women from underrepresented , diverse peoples are encouraged to apply and there is no age limit. The program will be nestled into the second week of programming for our voice and piano participants, focusing on American song. Composers will work with our celebrated senior composition faculty. Classes will comprise: masterclasses, individual lessons, lectures, discussion on poetry and text setting, performance of their work, along with other opportunities to engage with SongFest faculty and students. Performances will take place on one of two recitals dedicated to new American song alongside the works of the distinguished faculty.

“Discussion, process, give-and-take, variety, chaos, and California sun are what SongFest (for singers and pianists) and its sister program for composers Program for New Song is all about.” — Jennifer Kult, soprano 2004

Senior Composition faculty include: David Conte, John Harbison, Jake Heggie, Libby Larsen, John Musto, and Sheila Silver. SongFest singer/piano duo’s will workshop and premiere the new works working alongside the composers, coaching with faculty pianist Lydia Brown and singer Lucy Fitz Gibbon.

VENUE

We are excited that in 2022 SongFest will have a new home on the gorgeous campus of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The selected composers will be able to use their incredible state-of-the-art music facilities, including the stunning concert and recital halls. The 170,000 square-foot Bowes Center incorporates student housing, dining, classrooms, rehearsal rooms, performances spaces, faculty and partner offices, and a radio station all under one roof.

TIMELINE
The Application deadline is February 21, 2022, and the registration fee is $40. Students will be notified Friday, March 11, 2022 and composers will need to accept by Friday, March 18, 2022.

Between March 21-April 1, 2022, our selected composers will have virtual sessions with our composers for selecting texts. First drafts of approximately 4-8 minutes of music will then be composed and taken with them to SongFest where they will be revised, edited, and workshopped. Each emerging composer will be represented on a public concert

IMPORTANT DATES

• Application due: February 21, 2022
• Notification of acceptance: March 11, 2022
• Composer accepts: March 18, 2022
• Zoom with senior composers: March 21- April 1, 2022

The Sorel Organization

This program is made possible in part by a generous grant from The Sorel Organization, whose mission is ‘to expand opportunities and stretch the boundaries for women in music.’ The Sorel Organization is committed to creating change in today's music world by focusing grant support to: amplify the voices of underrepresented composers, advance gender and racial equity in classical music, and expand the classical music canon for future generations. In partnership with The Sorel Organization, SongFest has made a substantial contribution to the art song repertoire through its commissioning program that has produced new works for voice and piano by such distinguished composers as William Bolcom, Reena Esmail, Gabriela Lena Frank, John Harbison, Jennifer Higdon, Anne LeBaron, Lori Laitman, Libby Larsen, James Primosch and Shulamit Ran along with many other distinguished musicians who have become part of our SongFest family of composers. We look forward to expanding this list with the re-invention of our 2004 composer/mentorship program, which will help to both cultivate and promote the talent of five emerging composers guided by The Sorel Organization and its mission to create more opportunities for all women in classical music.

Application for the SongFest-Sorel Composer Mentorship

Five emerging composers will receive full scholarships to attend (tuition/room/meals).

Recommendations

Please provide the names and contact information (email preferred) of three people who can best speak to your work.
Email: martha.songfest@gmail.com

Material requested

• One page Resume

• A 250 word bio

• Statement of purpose: This statement should indicate why you are interested in song composition in particular, and how you might benefit from this program. (Suggested length between 200-250 words)

• Score submission:  Applicants are requested to show a documented interest in art song composition and are requested to submit links to two (2) contrasting audio or video selections, for voice and piano, each no longer than 5 minutes and one (1) other audio or video selection or excerpt for any instrumentation, no more than 5 minutes in length. This is a total of three selections. If audio or video files are not available for all three pieces, links to midi files will be acceptable.

  • Acceptable formats include a listed or unlisted Youtube link, or a private or public Soundcloud page link.  Please no direct downloads.

• Please provide the scores for your three audio/video examples in PDF format.

• Submit $40 registration fee below.

Payment by Credit or Debit Card

To pay by credit or debit card, please use the button below.
Please fill in the Description as “SongFest-Sorel Composer Mentorship Application” and the Price per item as “$40” - Thank you.

For more information about SongFest: songfestus@gmail.com

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