OREGON BACH FESTIVAL
COMPOSERS SYMPOSIUM
– 30th Anniversary Celebration Year –

OBFCS 2025 Theme:
LIVING IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
THE ENVIRONMENT
AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
or a theme of your choice

SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2025 [date of arrival]

through

THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2025 [date of departure]

University of Oregon

School of Music and Dance

Eugene, Oregon

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025

A Community of Artists:

Open to all Composers, Performers, and Conductors
Co-Creation & Collaboration:
Performances & Presentations by Renowned Guest Artists &

Artists Collaborative Ensemble (ACE)

OBFCS Improv Ensemble

Composers Film Festival
Affordability & Accessibility

This summer, OBFCS will celebrate its 30th anniversary with the theme of “Living in Harmony with Nature: The Environment and Global Climate Change,” or if you wish, you many choose a theme of your own. We offer you a host of opportunities to compose, perform and connect with new colleagues for collaborations now and in the future.

• COMPOSITION PROJECTS—

Deadline for new scores & parts:

[Projects #1, #2, & #4]

TUESDAY, JUNE 17th

During the symposium, if you are a composer/performer or performer, you will attend rehearsals with the artists-in-residence who are performing your music and/or you will perform with them in some of the pieces. If you are a composer (non-performer), you will attend both the rehearsals and concerts featuring your music.

Project #1: COMPOSE A NEW WORK on the theme of "Living in Harmony with Nature: the Environment & Global Climate Change"—You may write for 1-6 instruments in any configuration chosen from the instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration.

Project #2: COMPOSE A NEW WORK on any theme of your own choosing—You may write for 1-6 instruments in any configuration chosen from the instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration.

Project #3: SUBMIT SEVERAL PREVIOUSLY COMPOSED WORKS for us to consider for performance in an OBFCS concert—You may submit as many as five previously composed scores to be considered for performance in an OBFCS concert. You may submit scores composed for 1-6 instruments in any configuration chosen from the instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration.

Project #4: NEW INTERCULTURAL COMPOSITION FOR SHAKUHACHI—Our guest artist, Daniel De Togni, will mentor students who are interested in creating new music for shakuhachi solo or shakuhachi with 1-2 instruments selected from our instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration. Daniel will then perform their works on an OBFCS concert.

Project #5: INTERCULTURAL COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE FOR BALINESE GAMELAN—Compose music for Balinese Gamelan (the "Pacific Rim Gamelan") and perform it as a member of the ensemble. Participants will learn to play these beautiful instruments, compose for them, and perform works that are being written for our "Gamelan Celebration Concert" at the end of the symposium. Robert Kyr, OBFCS Director, is also the director of the Pacific Rim Gamelan, and will be your mentor as you learn how to play and compose for this ensemble.

• SPECIAL CONCERTS PERFORMED BY OUR GUEST ARTISTS—

Our guest artists will give a series of concerts featuring music from the contemporary repertoire as well as works by symposium participants.

• ALL COMPOSER/PERFORMERS & PERFORMERS:

ARTISTS COLLABORATIVE ENSEMBLE (ACE)—

As a composer/performer or performer you are a member of the symposium's ensemble, the Artists Collaborative Ensemble (ACE), and with our artists-in-residence, you will rehearse and premiere music created by participants for the five composition projects listed above.

• ALL PARTICIPANTS—

PRESENTATIONS ABOUT YOUR MUSIC &/or A SPECIAL TOPIC OF YOUR CHOICE:

All participants may give a presentation to the entire symposium about their music and/or special topic of their choice. We will also provide a means for you to share additional information about yourself and to connect with other symposium composers and composer/performers for possible future collaborations.

• OBFCS IMPROV ENSEMBLE—

During OBFCS 2025, composers, composer/performers, instrumentalists and/or vocalists may participate in the OBFCS Improv Ensemble, if you wish. Please apply under Category V: OBFCS Improv Ensemble.

• COMPOSERS FILM FESTIVAL—

SHOW A FILM YOU SCORED OR MADE:

Films and/or videos that participants have previously scored and/or created (as a filmmaker) will be presented at our Composers Film Festival during the symposium. These films may be in the genres of film music, video game music, and/or other audio-visual genres. Audience members will have a chance to give feedback during a discussion following each screening. On the online application, please apply for our Composers Film Festival if you are interested in screening your work or attending the film festival as a spectator.

We welcome you to participate...

IN AS MANY CATEGORIES AS YOU WISH—

You may participate in as many categories of the symposium as you wish with no supplemental tuition charge beyond the basic cost of the program. Please note: if you are a composer, you are strongly encouraged to apply as a “composer/performer,” which will give you an opportunity for maximum engagement during the symposium.

AFFORDABILITY,

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE &

ACCESSIBILITY—

As in the past, we have kept our tuition extremely low, however, if you have a legitimate need for financial assistance, please complete your application first and then write an email to Robert Kyr, in which you specify the amount that you need.

We are glad to consider your request if financial assistance will make it possible for you to participate in the symposium. Please send your request to Robert Kyr at rkyr@uoregon.edu.

CELEBRATING OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY—

Each year, more than 30,000 people attend the Oregon Bach Festival in order to take advantage of an exciting mix of choral/orchestral masterworks, chamber concerts, talks, a conducting master class, and social events. Although the festival is known for its concerts, education is at its core.

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium (Robert Kyr, founder and director), which has featured a host of renowned composers-in-residence including:

Arvo Pärt in '94;

Judith Weir in '95;

John Harbison in '96;

Krzysztof Penderecki in '98;

Lou Harrison in '00,

Veljo Tormis in '02;

R. Murray Schafer in '02;

Tan Dun in ’02;

George Crumb in ’04;

David Crumb in ’04, ’16 & '21;

Osvaldo Golijov in ’05;

Martin Bresnick in ’07 & ‘18;