Salastina Sounds Promising Young Composers Program

Under the guidance of Composer Derrick Skye, Sounds Promising composition students write a world premiere for Salastina’s Resident Artists. Pieces are then workshopped with the Resident Artists prior to being professionally recorded. Composers are free to use the finished recording as they wish.

2022/2023 SEASON UPDATE

Because all aspects of this program — from lessons to workshopping and recording — can take place virtually, Salastina is pleased to continue providing the program to students living anywhere.

Additionally, Salastina is giving priority admission to young composers near the end of their collegiate and graduate work whose career prospects have been slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Preparing your music for a polished result

What do you say to musicians to get them to play the music that's in your head? Sounds Promising gives student composers hands-on experience interacting with performers. Each student composer receives three opportunities to workshop their piece with the professionals performing it.

Public Performance and Professional Recording

Want to share our virtual stage with composers like Adam Schoenberg, Reena Esmail, Derrick, Caroline Shaw, and many more?

Once your piece has been written, workshopped, and recorded, it will be premiered with you as our featured guest during one of our weekly Happy Hours.

You’ll receive the finished recording for your personal use — from school, scholarship, or award applications to promotional material.

Building Relationships

Salastina is a small, close-knit community of artists. All of us interact regularly with our young artists and composers, offering mentorship, guidance, and opportunities well outside of what’s described above.

Sounds Promising alumni remain part of Salastina’s extended family beyond the year of their active participation in the program. For instance, we were both proud and honored to formally commission Sounds Promising alumna Sakari Dixon Vanderveer for the 2019/2020 season.

Tuition

There is no tuition fee to participate. All Young Composers receive full scholarships generously funded by Salastina’s Membership program.

Application Requirements
-Age limit: 30
-Send to maia@salastina.org, by December 15:
*a brief (200 words or less) biography
*contact information for two references
*up to 3 media samples of any format (mp3, YouTube, etc) best reflecting your compositional skill and style

Details are available at web pages:
https://www.salastina.org/promising-composers