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]

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025

A Community of Artists
Co-Creation & Collaboration
Performances & Presentations by Renowned Guest Artists &

Artists Collaborative Ensemble (ACE)

OBFCS Improv Ensemble

Symposium 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—

During the symposium, you will attend rehearsals with the artists-in-residence who are performing your music and/or you will perform in some pieces if you are a composer/performer or performer.

Project #1: COMPOSE A NEW WORK on the theme of "Living in Harmony with Nature: the Environment & Global Climate Change"—instrumentation chosen from the instrumental roster below.

Project #2: COMPOSE A NEW WORK on any theme of your own choosing—instrumentation chosen from the instrumental roster below.

Project #3: SUBMIT SEVERAL PREVIOUSLY COMPOSED WORKS for us to consider for performance on one of our symposium concerts—instrumentation chosen from the instrumental roster below.

Project #4: INTERCULTURAL COMPOSITION (SHAKUHACHI)—Compose a new work for shakuhachi solo or for shakuhachi with 1-2 instruments selected from our instrumental roster below. Our guest artist is Daniel De Togni, who will work with students who are interested in creating new music for the shakuhachi and perform their works.

Project #5: INTERCULTURAL COMPOSITION (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.

• 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 SPECIAL TOPICS OF YOUR CHOICE:

All composer/performers, composers, and performers will give presentations to the entire symposium about their music and/or special topics 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 as a “Composer” (Category I), “Composer/Performer” (Category II), “Performer” (Category III), and/or “Conductor” (Category IV), and specify "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. Audience members will have a chance to give feedback during a discussion following each screening. Please apply as a “Composer/Performer” (Category II), “Composer” (Category I) or “Performer” (Category III), and specify “Composers Film Festival.”

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 obfcomposers@gmail.com.

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;