The Program

Lessons • Workshops • Performances • Recordings

Program Summary

Performance: Participants will be invited to submit one work, in any style, of up to six (6) minutes in length for the resident ensemble, Sonic Apricity. All participant works will be premiered on an Alba Music Festival Wet Ink concert. Furthermore, Sonic Apricity will choose one composer to receive a commission to compose a new work as part of a future concert season. Participants will also be considered for reprise performances of their work during future concert seasons.
Professional Recording: Each participant will receive a professional, edited recording of their work as part of a dedicated recording session with Sonic Apricity.

Private lessons: Participants receive one-on-one private composition lessons with the resident faculty. In 2019 our faculty includes Emily Koh, Joseph Dangerfield, and the 2019 Composer-In-Residence, Pierre Jalbert. Furthermore, we are very happy to welcome as special guest faculty, composer and producer Rick Beato in 2019. Additional lessons may also be available, time permitting, with any of our visiting composers.
Masterclasses & Workshops: Daily workshops and masterclasses are led by the composition faculty, the Composer-In-Residence, and visiting composers. These sessions focus on variety of topics, ranging from issues of craft, to professional career planning.

VIP Access: Participants will have complimentary, reserved seating at festival concerts, as well as invitations to select, special events. We also include a complimentary tour of an area winery, complete with a wine tasting hosted by a local sommelier.
Future Opportunities: All alumni of the Alba Composition Program are eligible to receive a paid commission to compose a new work for a premiere as part of a future Alba Festival . In 2017, the first Alba Alumni Commission was awarded to 2016 alumnus, Jonathan Posthuma. Our 2018 commission was awarded to 2017 alumnus, Jesse Edwards. The 2019 commission will be announced by December 31, 2018.

A Typical Day in Alba

Each day in Alba is filled with music and fellowship. After an informal coffee/breakfast meeting (usually held at La Brasilera Cafe), mornings consist of rehearsals and/or private composition lessons with the faculty. At noon there is a break for lunch, followed by an afternoon composition masterclass/workshop held in the Alba Campus Center. Afterward there is time for private lessons, afternoon rehearsals, or rest. Alba Festival afternoon concerts are scheduled at 5:30 pm, followed by a break for an evening meal. At 9:00 pm, the Alba Festival evening concert takes place, often followed by lively socializing over wine and/or a late dinner, and, of course, gelato!

Student composers in 2010

Your Music: A Concert Performance

Program participants will be invited to submit one work, either pre-existing or newly composed, in any compositional style, of up to six (6) minutes for the resident ensemble. Works may be composed for the entire group, or for a subset of the group's instrumentation (violin, viola, and piano). Performance materials, professionally prepared, will be due for electronic delivery (PDF format) no later than March 1, 2019. All works will performed on one of the Alba Festival concerts dedicated to the work of living composers: Wet Ink, and Music of Our Time.

Violinist Erik Rohde performing in 2012

Your Music: A Professional Recording

One of the most valuable things for a composer is a high-quality recording. Thus, as part of the program, each participant will have his/her work professionally recorded in a dedicated session. These sessions will be coordinated in consultation with the program participants, the musicians, resident faculty, and the Composer-in-Residence. Each participant will receive an edited, twenty-four (24) bit stereo master of their music approximately one month after the completion of the festival. In addition, the unedited ProTools session files may be made available on request.

Private Composition Lessons

All participants will receive private, one-on-one, lessons with each member of the resident composition faculty and the Composer-in-Residence. Time permitting, additional lessons may also be available with any of the guest and visiting composers.

Daily Masterclasses and Workshops

Masterclasses and workshops, hosted by the resident composition faculty, the Composer-in-Residence, and guest composers, will be held each day in the music classroom of the Alba Campus Center. All classes and workshops will be topic based, ranging from elements of compositional craft to career issues. Example topics include contemporary counterpoint, orchestration, electronic and electroacoustic music, spectralism, performance practice, improvisation, promotion, publishing, copyright, recording, music industry, and academic career advice.

Composers during a masterclass in 2016

Housing, Meals, and Transportation

Due to the wide range of circumstances and needs of our applicants, the program is able to offer a discounted housing and meal package as an option. Participants are not required to enroll in this plan. We are also happy to assist those who wish to make their own accommodation arrangements. We are also happy to arrange a discounted private car/van shuttle service from major city airports and railway stations. Torino (Turin) is the most often used gateway for arriving and departing by air or rail. Turin is located about an hour and fifteen minutes from Alba by car. However, both Milan and Genova are also possible points of arrival and departure, each about two and a half hours drive from Alba.
Participants who take advantage of the housing/meal package will have one round-trip transfer provided (to/from Turin).

Facilities: The Alba Campus, Music School, and Beppe Fenoglio Hall

Composition masterclasses and workshops are held in a remodeled classroom located in an important historical building. This building, known as the Alba Campus Center, also houses the administrative offices of the festival. During the day, participants will have access to this building, which contains several practice rooms with pianos, computers, and free high-speed WiFi. Private lessons are held in the campus center, or in one of the practice rooms or rehearsal spaces of the local music school which, houses a recently remodeled multipurpose hall named after Beppe Fenoglio, a famous 20th century Italian author and native of the region.

One of the practice rooms in the classroom building

The Alba Festival Classroom Building

Sala Beppe Fegnolio

2019 Tuition and Fees

Tuition: €1850 (approximately $2,050)

This fee includes all elements of the program except travel, meals, and accommodation. An inclusive meal and accommodation plan is available (see below).
The tuition will be payable in three installments:

Refundable Deposit: €500 (due on acceptance to the program)
January 10, 2019: First Installment: €1000
February 1, 2019: Final Installment: €350 (less any financial aid)

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Additional Options

Housing and Meal Package : €650 (approximately $730)

This package includes nine (9) nights of accommodation in Alba, single occupancy, from May 25 to June 3, and eight (8) days of meals from May 26 to June 2. This plan includes one round trip airpot/railway transfer from Turin (TRN). Details can be found here.

Transportation Options

If you do not elect the above housing and meal plan, we are happy to arrange local transportation to and from Alba from area airports and train stations (usually Turin or Milan). The fee will vary depending on your arrival/departure location.

Payments for the housing/meal package, and any transportation, are due by April 1, 2019.

Workshops & Festival Concerts Only: €750

We also offer a special plan for those who wish to attend the festival, and take part in the masterclasses and Alba Festival concerts, but do not need or want private lessons, a performance, and recording. Auditors do not qualify for financial aid.

Refund Policy: All payments made to the program are fully refundable if a request to withdraw from the program has been made on, or before January 10, 2019. After this date, all payments received towards the program are non-refundable due to the advanced preparation and commitments made on the behalf of the participant. An exception to this would be: If unforeseen circumstances (i.e. "act of God", natural or otherwise) cause the festival and/or the composition program to be postponed or canceled. All funds paid toward the program would be refunded in full to the participants.

The interior of Sala Beppe Fegnolio

The program