MM: Composition

Master of Music:  Composition Concentration

Program Director:  Daniel Thomas Davis, dtdavis@binghamton.edu

Binghamton's M.M. program offers advanced student composers a practice-based graduate program featuring unique performance opportunities with some of the world's finest ensembles and soloists. Current and incoming Master's students have the opportunity to work with, write pieces for, and enjoy performances from the following:

  • Contemporaneous: Energetic 21-member orchestra that has worked with David Byrne, Dawn Upshaw and Julia Wolfe.
  • Fifth House: Chicago鈥檚 pioneering ensemble, known for collaborations with video game designers, folk bands and theaters.

  • Momenta String Quartet: Praised by the New York Times for its "focused, fluid performance" and by Sequenza 21 for its "fire, fantasy and absolute musical commitment," the Momenta Quartet has premiered over 100 works in the past eight years and has collaborated with over 80 living composers.

  • Roomful of Teeth: Grammy-winning vocal project dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice.

  • Yarn|Wire: 鈥淢esmerizing鈥 quartet of two pianists and two percussionists that has toured with Sufjan Stevens (New York Times).

  • Hub New Music: Boston-based 鈥渃ontemporary chamber trailblazers鈥 (Boston Globe).

  • Lontano Ensemble (London, UK): One of London's premiere new music ensembles, Lontano has presented many concerts for the BBC and worldwide.

  • ModernMedieval: Pitch-perfect trio of voices that presents ancient and cutting-edge music in venues such as the Met Museum.

  • National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts: Beijing鈥檚 center for Chinese Opera.

  • Finger Lakes Chamber Ensemble: Frequent collaborations with 黑料视频鈥檚 string faculty on- and off-campus.

  • 黑料视频 Symphony Orchestra & Chamber Singers

  • Tri-Cities Opera / Binghamton Opera Program

Program Highlights

  • Graduate Assistantships
  • Generous Scholarships
  • Extraordinary Professional Performances
  • Award-winning Faculty
  • Teaching Experience for M.M. Students
  • Low Tuition
  • Easy Connections to NYC
  • Individualized Curriculum
  • Collaborations across the Arts
  • Frequent Masterclasses
  • Record of Graduate Placements
  • Supportive & Inclusive Community

Program Overview

  • Minimum 12 credits in applied composition studies
  • Minimum 4 credits in electives (ensembles and/or other courses)
  • 12 credits in Music History, Research, and Analysis courses
  • MM Thesis Portfolio

Admissions Requirements

Please go to the Apply  page for complete information regarding admissions, auditions, and interviews.

Application Deadline

The MM program has a rolling admission and will accept applications at any time.  If you wish to be fully considered for funding in the 2025-2026 year, you must submit your application by February 1, 2025.