Irish Composition Summer School 2024
The 41st Irish Composition Summer School will run at the Technical University Dublin Conservatory of Music, Grangegorman, Dublin City, Ireland, from July 1st to 10th. Prospective participants should be composers at the early stages of their career, and students taking composition and considering it as a career.
Closing date for entries: May 31st 2024
Entry Fee: €380.00
Course Dates: July 1st to 10th 2024
Location: TU Dublin, Grangegorman, East Quad
Contact: John McLachlan
Email: johnrmclachlan@gmail.com
Course Directors: Nicola LeFanu and Kevin O’Connell
Guest Director: Camden Reeves and David Bremner
Performers/instruments: String Quartet from the Ficino Ensemble
Technology director: Ian Brabazon
Admin: John McLachlan
Sponsored by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Supported by IMRO—the Irish Music Rights Organisation
We will offer a full day timetable that allows for composing time: the weekdays feature group seminars (mostly mornings) and individual tutorials (afternoons). Days are 9.30am to 5pm Irish time
(UTC / GMT). The school offers a range of lectures, presentations and demonstrations on all aspects of contemporary composition, focusing on writing for any combination of the available forces with
optional electronic fixed media. The school offers advice on writing for the instruments, and on all aspects of contemporary art music composition. There is considerable one to one guidance on your
piece as you write it, therefore we welcome composers at any stage of their development. At the end of the course, the students' works will be presented in workshop, rehearsed and
digitally recorded by the performers. Throughout the course, students will receive guidance from experienced course directors and nationally and internationally renowned composers. This year, the ICSS is delighted to welcome Camden Reeves as Guest Director, who will present seminars on his own work, as well as giving individual tutorials to all students.
Due to the limited duration of the course students are expected to come with some sketches/ideas prepared. The course involves a combination of one-to-one tutorials with the participating composers, and
group seminars. These will cover the major aspects of contemporary composition such as harmony, rhythm, formal structure and instrumental writing.
Please note the fee for attending the course does not include accommodation.
How to Apply
Applicants should send their details to Dr John McLachlan at johnrmclachlan@gmail.com
Details should include:
• your name, location and a contact detail
• a summary of musical qualifications and present place of study (if studying)
• A brief summary of your experience in composition
• a list of any works composed
• The name and contact details of one composition-related referee
Applications should be emailed to the administrator by Friday, May 31st 2024.
Course directors will assess applications, and applicants will be contacted within one week of closing date. 50% of fee will be due by June 14th.
Download further course information as a pdf.