How do you become a composition student at OCU? How many students are enrolled as composition majors? Can you study composition if it is not your major? Do composition students meet on a regular basis? How long are the undergraduate and graduate degree programs? What is "Project 21 Concert Series"? Do you have to have prior experience to study composition? Do I have to audition for the composition program? If so, in what? What are the OCU Composer alumni success stories? What musical styles represent the department of composition? How do I get my music performed at OCU? Who teaches composition at OCU? Can I contact current composition majors? Can I directly contact composition faculty? Does OCU offer composition Scholarships? Are audio recordings made and kept of new compositions? How often can we perform new works at OCU? Can I get archived recordings of OCU composition performances? What are the credentials of the OCU composition faculty? Can I write music for other mediums and genre other than music? How many students from abroad study composition at OCU?

How do you become a composition student at OCU? There are three steps: apply for admission to the university and; schedule an audition on a major instrument or voice for the school of music and schedule an interview with the composition faculty along with a composition portfolio; and finally enroll in the composition program once admitted. How many students are enrolled as composition majors? For the academic year 2002-2003 there were 11 undergraduate and graduate composition majors enrolled at OCU. Can you study composition if it is not your major? Absolutely! There are several opportunities for studying composition at OCU. You can enroll in class composition, private composition lessons with Dr. Knight, or Independent Study composition lessons. Do composition students meet on a regular basis? Yes. Composition students, as well as non-composition students participate in Composer's forum. The weekly assembly provides a venue for musicians to discuss topics relevant to the field of composition. The convention of diverse ideas and perspectives provides composers at all stages of their development with valuable resources for artistic development. The Forum enables students to learn from one another in a variety of ways: exploring new musical ideas, encountering various composition techniques, exposing oneself to a mixture of viewpoints, and participating in broad-based discussions. How long are the undergraduate and graduate degree programs? On a normal track for undergraduates, the composition program runs a full four years or eight semesters. The graduate program follows a two-year four-semester track. What is "Project 21 Concert Series"? Composers present their works at numerous concerts held each year. Students gain experience through critical and creative processes by bringing original work from its conceptual stage to the reality of rehearsal, revision and performance. Do you have to have prior experience to study composition? No. To study composition you do not have to have experience in the area. However, to major in composition, you must have prior experience presented in a portfolio, i.e. arrangements, original works, orchestrations, etc. Do I have to audition for the composition program? If so, in what? Yes. All perspective students wanting to enter the OCU School of Music must audition to enter the program. For the composition program, you must select a major instrument or voice to audition. In addition to this audition process, those wanting to pursue composition as a major must present a portfolio for review. What are the OCU Composer alumni success stories? OCU alumni are enrolled in graduate composition programs at schools including Cal Arts, Bowling Green, University of Texas at Austin, and Kansas City Conservatory. Recent graduates are scoring films, composing and arranging for multimedia applications, serving as music directors, touring the Austin band circuit, and teaching. Our most recent graduate success story is of Phoebe Meng-Zheng who has been accepted into London's Royal College of Music. What musical styles represent the department of composition? Diversity. In all actuality, there is no one way to describe the musical styles of the department. If one were to give a general set of stylistic qualities, they would be post-modern, minimalistic, neo-impressionistic, etc. How do I get my music performed at OCU? OCU dance shows, OCU art exhibits, and community theatre companies provide venues for new students works. Orchestral readings and recordings of student works are held each year. Other ensembles, including the University choirs, Percussion Ensemble, and Wind Philharmonic have also read and performed Project 21 works. Students have opportunities at the aforementioned composer's concert series as well. Who teaches composition at OCU? Dr. Edward Knight (b. 1961, Ann Arbor, Michigan) is Oklahoma City University's resident composer, and the current Musician of the Year for the State of Oklahoma. He teaches private composition and is coordinator of the weekly composer's forum. Can I contact current composition majors? Yes! Current composition majors can all be contacted through the "soon to be launched" Project 21 homepage. Can I directly contact composition faculty? Yes. You may contact Dr. Edward Knight at any time during the school year at his office number (405)521-5274 or by email at: eknight@okcu.edu. He will be able to answer any questions you have regarding the composition program and direct you to any other contacts in other areas as needed. Does OCU offer composition Scholarships? OCU does offer music talent awards to composition majors based on audition and interview results. Are audio recordings made and kept of new compositions? All concerts and performances at OCU are recorded and archived throughout the year. This includes composition concerts. How often can we perform new works at OCU? In all actuality, there is no specific limit to the number of performances of new works at OCU. However, the performances are all dependant on the performers, the space, and time of performance. With the multitudes of performance opportunities and venues, new works can be performed as many times as possible if the composer wishes as long as these factors all align. Can I get archived recordings of OCU composition performances? You may acquire recordings of current and past OCU composition performances through Jan Kinsey, OCU's School of Music Facilities Manager. You can contact her at (405) 521-5825. What are the credentials of the OCU composition faculty? Dr. Edward Knight is head of the composition department. In the past five years, he has had more than two-dozen works premiered, including music for orchestra, symphonic band, percussion ensemble, chorus, cabaret, and musical theater. The New York Philharmonic, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, in venues ranging from the Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall, have performed his compositions. He toured Europe as a jazz trumpeter, studied privately with John Corigliano, and was the first American to win the Sir Arthur Bliss Memorial Award for outstanding postgraduate composer at the London's Royal College of Music. He is a past winner of ASCAP's Rudolf Nissim Award for the year's top new orchestral work. For the past two summers, he has been awarded fellowships to the Yaddo arts colony in Saratoga Springs, New York. Can I write music for other mediums and genre other than music? Absolutely. OCU composition majors are not limited to writing music for concert performances. They are encouraged to write for any medium that they are capable of writing for, such as film, television, ballet, dance, electronic/computer, theater, and many other genres. How many students from abroad study composition at OCU? In the 2002-2003 academic year, two countries were represented with five composition students from abroad. The University welcomes any students from abroad to pursue their education.