Who should apply?

Pre-college students (18 and under) who live in the Greater Seattle area and can attend weekly workshop sessions in Downtown Seattle.

Students who have the following:

• Experience with creative music-making (composing music of any genre, improvisation, songwriting, music production, etc.)

• A solid background in music notation and at least some familiarity with notation software (Musescore, Finale, Noteflight, etc.)

Application Information

Please have the following materials prepared when applying:

Original Compositions

Two to three pieces recommended. Music outside of the classical tradition is welcomed, just be sure to include at least one piece that has a score in your application. The application will request that you submit:

• URL to audio or video recordings of compositions by the applicant (on applicant's website, YouTube channel, SoundCloud account, etc.). The webpage must contain the applicant's name and the title of the piece. Audio/MIDI renderings from notation software will do if no recordings exist. 

• PDF of the score of the same compositions by the applicant (score not required for non-classical works if not applicable, but please submit a score for every piece that has one). Each file name must be formatted as APPLICANT LAST NAME, FIRST NAME YCW 2027 [Title of the work].

Written Materials

• Written paragraph about the submitted pieces (50 words max per piece)

• Biography of the applicant (approximately 150 words)

• Answer to the following question: What are you hoping to gain from the Young Composers Workshop? (200 words max)

• Answers to questions regarding applicant’s musical background

Important Dates & Workshop Schedule

Please note: If accepted, students are expected to attend all workshop classes, rehearsals and the final concert.

• December 1, 2026 - All application materials are due.

• December 15, 2026 - Candidates notified of the selection results.

Workshop Sessions

Classes meet Wednesdays, from 4:30–6:30pm in Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, Benaroya Hall (Downtown Seattle)

• February 10, 17, 24 

• March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

• April 7, 14, 21, 28

• May 5, 12, 19, 26

• Bonus Sessions: Additional bonus sessions may be scheduled throughout the season.

Rehearsal and Concert

The final concert for the Young Composers Workshop will take place in Benaroya Hall's Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall.

• June 12, 2027, 10am-4pm - Rehearsal

• June 14, 2027, 7:30pm - Concert

Meet the Workshop Director: Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte

Sarah Bassingthwaighte is a Canadian-American composer whose work focuses on climate and social justice. She is an acclaimed member of the contemporary classical music scene, a music lecturer and clinician, and an award-winning composer who has worked in England, Iceland, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Norway, and the US. Sarah has appeared on podcasts including Who is Heard, New Classical Tracks with Julie Amacher, and Creative Conversations with Roger Humphrey. She’s the winner of the European Music, the International Satie, the International Saint-Saëns Competitions, the International Couperin Competition, a two-time finalist for the American Prize in Composition, and her pieces have often won the NFA Newly Published Music Award.

The London Symphony Orchestra recorded Dr. Bassingthwaighte’s album of symphonic works Orchestrating the Wild, released in May 2025. Bassingthwaighte was Artist-in-Residence in the high Arctic as part of the Arctic Circle Residency – her resulting works, many of which are collaborative, are focused on using art to inspire climate action. She will be Composer-in-Residence in Sweden, at the Visby International Centre for Composers (VICC) as well as at the Uncool Residency in Switzerland. Her compositions have been performed by the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Northwest, the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, the Sound Ensemble, the Ecco Chamber Ensemble, and members of the Iceland Symphony, among others. Her solo CDs include Songs from the Caucasus, Stalks in the Breeze and Flute Meets Machine, and she and guitarist Mark Wilson recorded Around the World and Through Time as the ensemble Sirocco.

Textura writes “Bassingthwaighte's pieces register as vivid tone paintings that in myriad ways call the mystery and magnificence of the natural world to mind"; Music Map describes her pieces as “deep, introspective, and adventurous soundscapes”; and Cinescape says of the Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra “it has potential to become an important addition to the instrument’s concert repertoire.” She is the author of the book Flute Meets Machine and has been awarded the Stan Chu Essay award.

Dr. Bassingthwaighte is Head of Composition at Seattle Pacific University and teaches flute at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

Can students who primarily write music in genres outside of classical music apply?

Yes! Students who have more experience in other genres are welcome to apply. However, all students who are admitted to the workshop will need to have a solid background in standard music notation. Please note that students will be composing for orchestral instruments in the workshop.

I just started composing/writing music, can I apply?

Anyone under 18 is welcome to apply. However, to have a beneficial experience in the workshop, students will need to have a solid background in music notation and experience in creative music-making (improvisation, songwriting, music production, etc.).

I am interested in electroacoustic composition, will electronics be a part of this year's workshop?

Not this year! This season's workshop focus is composing for acoustic instruments in chamber ensembles without the use of electronics. We hope to offer a workshop focused on electroacoustic composition again in the coming years.

What kinds of ensembles will students in this year's workshop be composing for?

Students will write for chamber ensembles (smaller groups) that will be comprised of Seattle Symphony musicians. Some examples of types of chamber ensembles: string quartet, woodwind or brass quintets, piano trio, and more.

Note: student's choice of ensemble to write for may vary from the examples listed above and will be determined in collaboration with the workshop director.

How much does the workshop/application cost?

The application and the workshop are both free of charge.

Is there an age limit?

All applicants must be 18 or under to be considered for the workshop. While there is no limit to how young someone can be to apply, typically students in the workshop are high schoolers.

I am located outside of the Seattle area, could I join the workshop remotely?

At this time, the workshop only occurs in-person at Benaroya Hall. Students who are admitted to the workshop will need to be able to attend weekly sessions in Downtown Seattle.

How many people will be admitted into the workshop?

Typically, there are around 10 students admitted into the workshop.

I am a past participant in the workshop, can I include my composition(s) from past Young Composers Workshop(s) in my application?

Yes!

Can I submit a MIDI rendering of my composition as my audio recording in the application?

Yes!