Composition Studies

Students who focus on composition while at KSU pursue a variety of courses that help them gain increasing compositional skill and experience. A number of KSU composition students have gone on to graduate composition programs at nationally recognized institutions. Prizes and awards received by KSU students include top prizes of the Georgia Music Teachers Association composition competition and subsequent recognition at the regional Music Teachers National Association competition. One KSU composition student won the H. Robert Reynolds Composer’s Competition, resulting in a performance of his wind ensemble work at Carnegie Hall. Most composition students pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Music in Performance (since there is not currently a degree in composition).

Composition students in the School of Music at Kennesaw State:

• Receive studio composition lessons with KSU Composer-in-Residence Dr. Laurence Sherr;
• Use advanced technological tools in the KSU music lab for music composition and score notation;
• Participate in an annual student composition recital at which their works are performed by KSU student;
• Receive instruction from guest artists such as David Maslanka and Allen Krantz.