Composition
Go From Aspiring to Professional
UMKC’s Composition program is one of the leading programs in North America, with 50-60 students, freshman through doctoral. Our accomplished faculty are dedicated to your development as a composer and have received many esteemed commissions and accolades, which are a testament to their quality as educators, artists and innovators.
Explore Our Programs
Develop the skills needed to excel and pursue rewarding careers in music composition.
Why Study Composition at UMKC Conservatory?
Distinguished Faculty
Learn from internationally renowned faculty who have received numerous high-level awards, recognitions and commissions and who are committed to your growth.
Successful Alumni
Join a growing list of graduates who have won significant teaching positions at major U.S. universities, international universities and academies, and other prestigious institutions.
Excellent Extracurriculars
Our programs feature regular visits and instruction by distinguished composers and guest artists, along with collaborative opportunities with the instrumental and dance divisions.
Abundant Mentorship and Performance Opportunities
Students participate in annual orchestra readings, wind ensemble readings, student work concerts, composition competitions for orchestra, wind symphony and chamber music; the annual selected Composer-in-Residence of Fellowship Graduate String Quartet, Woodwind Quintet, and Brass Quintet; the Student Composer's Guild concerts; and a mentorship program that pairs undergraduates with graduate mentors.
Alumni Insights
The composition program at UMKC has opened many doors for me and exposed me to techniques and ideas I never even dreamed were possible. The professors act as guides for the student and I feel that allows me to be truly myself.
Aaryn Ricucci-Hill, '22
Master of Music: Music Composition alum
Popular Student Resources
Scenes From Our Studies
