The New York Youth Symphony’s Composition Program, offers student composers the opportunity to explore the world of composition and orchestration through seminars, individual tutorials, and workshops, plus reading sessions with professional musicians, and performances. Led by Director Dr. Kyle Blaha, the seminars explore the musical thought of a wide variety of composers, with a focus on instrumentation and orchestration. Examples are drawn from the vast classical repertoire and a range of musical traditions from throughout the world. Using tools such as study scores and orchestration books, the course aims to cultivate the students’ own voices through class discussion, written exercises, and free composition.
Each year, students compose new works for ensembles including string quartets, woodwind quintets, percussion trios, and more. Students then have opportunities to work directly with professional musicians to have these compositions workshopped, recorded, and performed. Past musicians have included Aizuri String Quartet, violinist David Fulmer, harpist Bridget Kibbey, violist Jessica Meyer, and more.
Orchestration Reading is an opportunity for students to compose original works for chamber orchestra, read by DECODA, performing side-by-side with the principal musicians of the NYYS Orchestra. Following the reading of each piece, conducted by NYYS Music Director Andrew J. Kim, students receive feedback from a mentor composer.
Distinguished composers visit sessions throughout the season, offering students an inside look at the creative process. Guests this year include Nadira Siotia, Wang Jie, Max Hammond, Oliver Xu, Timo Andres, Kevin Puts, Nico Muhly, Nina Young, inti giggis-vizueta and So Percussion.
Students’ works are read and workshopped throughout the season, culminating in a final performance by members of the NYYS Orchestra, Chamber Music, Jazz, and Apprentice Conducting programs at the annual Composition concert on May 19, 2025 at National Sawdust.
NYYS CompLab is an exciting new collaboration between our composition, conducting, and orchestral programs, launching in the 2025–26 season.
At the heart of CompLab is a unique process of mentorship and exchange: performers, selected through competitive audition, work side by side with composers to workshop new pieces, providing real-time feedback and insight into balance, technique, and instrumental color. This dialogue enables composers to refine their works in a living laboratory, rather than waiting until a final rehearsal, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of both craft and performance.
Student conductors from the Robert L. Poster Conducting Program lead rehearsals, developing their skills in communication and leadership while being guided by Music Director Andrew Kim, Composition Program Director Dr. Kyle Blaha, and other members of the NYYS artistic staff.
All participating students receive a small stipend in recognition of their time and commitment.
The project culminates in a public performance at National Sawdust, where the collaborative process is brought to the stage by an ensemble formed in the tradition of a Pierrot + Percussion group.
Music written by our students. Performed by our students. Conducted by our students. Our most collaborative concert of the year.
"With the various instrumentation assignments, I was naturally obliged to compose more consistently but while maintaining a level of inspiration and direction throughout."
Haeon Lee, Composer
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