Musical Theater Songwriting

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Musical Theater Songwriting Program

Program Overview

The New York Youth Symphony’s Musical Theater Songwriting Program (MTS) is designed to lead students through a range of musical theater songwriting processes. Whether their background is as a classical composer, singer-songwriter, performer, writer, or some cool hyphenate, this program will provide students with the opportunity to both study the fundamentals of musical theater songwriting and take artistic risks. Led by Director Michael Kooman, weekly sessions will feature seminars, workshops, and masterclasses with some of Broadway’s most distinguished composers, writers, performers, musicians, producers, directors, and designers. Throughout the year, students will also have the unique opportunity to workshop new material with performers from the Harlem School of the Arts and Molloy/CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, as well as a Broadway pit band.

Musical Theater Songwriting Program

Seminars And Performances

The Musical Theater Songwriting Program will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 5-8pm at the NYYS Office, located at 110 West 40th Street, New York, NY.

Past MTS seasons have featured as guest lecturers many of Broadway’s most acclaimed artists, including Stephen Flaherty (RagtimeOnce on this Island), Jeanine Tesori (Fun HomeJagged Little Pill), Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop), Alex Lacamoire (HamiltonDear Evan Hansen), Tom Kitt (Next To NormalJagged Little Pill), David Yazbek (The Band’s VisitTootsie), and Helen Park (K-POPOver the Moon).

Sharing of student works will take place throughout the year and culminate in a public performance at one of NYC’s iconic cabaret venues, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater on May 15, 2024.

Musical Theater Songwriting Program

Learning Objectives

By the end of the season, students in the MTS program will:

  • Learn how to develop musical theater stories and characters
  • Learn how to craft a musical theater song lyric
  • Develop music composition and arranging skills
  • Develop music publishing and music production skills
  • Practice collaboration with other young writers and performers
  • Practice giving and receiving constructive feedback
  • Develop confidence in performing and presenting original work
  • Gain an exclusive window into the professional musical theater world
  • Discover how different musical theater artists have carved out a career for themselves
  • Become part of a creative, supportive, and inclusive community of young artists

Musical Theater Songwriting Program

Interviews

Applicants should review the guidelines on this page to ensure they can fulfill the commitment to the program before applying.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 22 at 5PM!

Musical Theater Songwriting Program

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