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.
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 (Ragtime; Once on this Island), Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home; Jagged Little Pill), Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop), Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton; Dear Evan Hansen), Tom Kitt (Next To Normal; Jagged Little Pill), David Yazbek (The Band’s Visit; Tootsie), and Helen Park (K-POP; Over 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.
By the end of the season, students in the MTS program will:
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!
MTS interviews will be held between 5-8pm on September 27th and 29th at the NYYS Office at 110 West 40th Street, New York, NY. Upon completing the online application, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to schedule your interview online as well as the supplemental form, which must be completed prior to your interview. As part of the application you will be asked to submit two (2) original work samples. Work samples can be an original song (mp3 recording), an original composition (mp3 recording), an original lyric or poem (PDF document), or a scene from an original script (PDF document). If you do not have two existing work samples, you are encouraged to create new ones for the application. All interviews will be held in-person.
Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 22. In order to participate in the 2023/2024 season, the applicant's date of birth must be no earlier than May 26, 2001 and no later than November 19, 2011. Please do not apply if your birth date falls outside of these dates as you will not be eligible for the program and we are not able to refund your application fee.
Interviews are 15 minutes long, and at your interview, you will meet with the Director and the Assistant Director of the Musical Theater Songwriting Program. Each applicant will be asked about the materials they submitted as part of their supplemental form, and as well as their reasons for applying to the MTS program.
As part of your application, you will be asked to attach two (2) original work samples in the MTS supplemental form. Your work samples can belong to any of the following categories:
- an original song (MP3 recording)
- an original composition (MP3 recording)
- an original lyric (PDF attachment)
- an original poem (PDF attachment)
- an original scene from a script (PDF attachment)
You can include two work samples from the same category. If possible, please select samples that illustrate both your skill and range as a young artist. If you do not have two existing samples you can include, we encourage you to create new ones for your application.
The registration fee for the MTS program is $385.
The NYYS recognizes that the cost of application and registration fees may be prohibitive for some students, and that access to technology may be a barrier to participation. Financial aid, application fee waivers, work-study, and technology funds are available to help offset these expenses. Financial need is the major consideration when awarding assistance. We ask that students seek funding through their personal networks in addition to completing the financial aid application as funds are limited. The application for financial assistance is within the main application.
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