Irish Composition Summer School 2026

The 2026 Irish Composition Summer School will run at the Technical University Dublin Conservatory of Music, Grangegorman, Dublin, Ireland, from July 6th to 16th. Prospective participants should be composers at the early stages of their career, and students taking composition and considering it as a career.

Course Directors: Nicola LeFanu, Gráinne Mulvey and Martin O’Leary
Guest Director: Arlene Sierra
Instruments/Performers: ConTempo string quartet.
Technology director: Ian Brabazon
Admin: John McLachlan
Sponsored by the Arts

Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon. Supported by IMRO—the Irish Music Rights Organisation. Generously hosted by TU Dublin Conservatoire

We will offer a full day timetable that allows for composing time: the days feature group seminars (mostly mornings) and individual tutorials (afternoons).

COURSE INFORMATION
This year's school will offer a range of lectures, presentations and demonstrations on all aspects of contemporary composition, focusing on writing for combinations 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 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 Guest Director Arlene Sierra an internationally established composer originally from the US, now based in the UK. She will present seminars on her own work, as well as giving individual tutorials to all students. Nicola LeFanu, Martin O’Leary and Gráinne Mulvey will also give tutorials and seminars on music. Due to the limited duration of the course students are expected to come with some sketches/ideas prepared.

LEVELS
The course involves a great deal of individual tuition and so is suitable for a range of music students from postgraduate to undergraduate. Seminars will cover the major aspects of contemporary composition such as
harmony, rhythm, formal structure and instrumental writing.

FEES & APPLICATIONS

Course fee: €450

Applicants should send their details to Dr John McLachlan at johnrmclachlan@gmail.com (note the middle r).

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, June 12th 2026.

Course directors will assess applications, and applicants will be contacted within one week of closing date. 50% of fee will be due by June 26th .