Harvard Choruses New Music Initiative
Application Process for Year 10
In Year 10 of the Harvard Choruses New Music Initiative (HCNMI), the program will offer at least 6-8 undergraduate composers the opportunity to create a choral piece for Ensemble Veritas, a professional choral ensemble, or one of the Harvard Choruses, which will premiere their music in April 2026, which will be recorded.
Each of the selected composers will have the opportunity to create a work through a yearlong creative process with Professor Robert Kyr, HCNMI mentor and composer-in-residence. The deadline for the application is Monday, April 28th no later than 11:59 pm Eastern time. The deadline for the completed choral works will be at the beginning of the 2026 spring term.
One of the primary purposes of the program is to mentor participating composers in the creation of choral music as a living expression of community and collaboration, which demonstrates the power of music to enliven and connect all of us. HCNMI inspires each composer to create the music that they truly believe in, which is not tethered to fads or trends, but emerges from the inner life of each individual.
Regarding text for music, each composer is given the opportunity to create their own text, either written solely by the composer, or “composed” as a composite of source texts (“found texts”). If a composer chooses to create their own lyrics, then it will enable them to create the text and music together, as a single entity that fully expresses their inner vision through a vibrant and totally original sound world.
During Years 5 through 7 of HCNMI, composers created music that emerged out of their study of “sonic healing,” which combined the best practices of composition and performance with the science of healing as revealed through neuroscience. The program will revisit this important theme in 2025-2026 and in future years as a significant aspect of both the composition and performance process.
The director of HCNMI is Andrew Clark, Director of Choral Activities at Harvard, who envisioned and initiated the program in 2016. Each new choral work will be created under the mentorship of composer Robert Kyr, a Harvard alumnus (Ph.D., 1989; Society of Fellows, 1978-81), who has created music for each of the Harvard Choruses (and all of them together) and has extensive experience in the area of “healing through music.”
Each of the selected composers will have the opportunity to create a work through a yearlong creative process with Professor Robert Kyr, HCNMI mentor and composer-in-residence. The deadline for the application is Monday, April 28th no later than 11:59 pm Eastern time. The deadline for the completed choral works will be at the beginning of the 2026 spring term.
One of the primary purposes of the program is to mentor participating composers in the creation of choral music as a living expression of community and collaboration, which demonstrates the power of music to enliven and connect all of us. HCNMI inspires each composer to create the music that they truly believe in, which is not tethered to fads or trends, but emerges from the inner life of each individual.
Regarding text for music, each composer is given the opportunity to create their own text, either written solely by the composer, or “composed” as a composite of source texts (“found texts”). If a composer chooses to create their own lyrics, then it will enable them to create the text and music together, as a single entity that fully expresses their inner vision through a vibrant and totally original sound world.
During Years 5 through 7 of HCNMI, composers created music that emerged out of their study of “sonic healing,” which combined the best practices of composition and performance with the science of healing as revealed through neuroscience. The program will revisit this important theme in 2025-2026 and in future years as a significant aspect of both the composition and performance process.
The director of HCNMI is Andrew Clark, Director of Choral Activities at Harvard, who envisioned and initiated the program in 2016. Each new choral work will be created under the mentorship of composer Robert Kyr, a Harvard alumnus (Ph.D., 1989; Society of Fellows, 1978-81), who has created music for each of the Harvard Choruses (and all of them together) and has extensive experience in the area of “healing through music.”
how to apply
1) APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Applications for the Harvard Choruses New Music Initiative (HCNMI) must be submitted via email by Monday, April 28, 2025, no later than 11:59 pm Eastern time. Composers will be contacted no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2025, regarding acceptance into the program.
2) SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS:
Please send all of your materials to both Robert Kyr at [email protected] and Andrew Clark at [email protected], as follows:
a) YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION:
In your application email, please include the following information:
• Your first and last name;
• Your Harvard email address;
• A second email address if you have one (gmail or other);
• Your cell phone number (and landline, if applicable).
b) SCORES:
Please submit 1-3 scores of your music, either choral or instrumental, but if you have composed vocal music of any type, you are strongly encouraged to submit at least one vocal piece as part of your application. Please attach your score(s) [PDFs] to your email application; please be sure to label each file with your name (in all caps) and the title of your work (for example, First name, all caps [Space] Last name, all caps [Space] Title.
c) RECORDINGS OR MIDI:
In your application email, please submit a link to a recording or MIDI realization of each score that you submit. Please do not use a platform that requires us to sign up for a service or app. For example, the very best way to share your music with us is an unlisted YouTube channel.
d) YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
In the body of your email, please include a brief paragraph or two in which you describe your previous experience in composing choral music and/or vocal music of any kind. You may also describe your experience with instrumental music if you wish.
Applications for the Harvard Choruses New Music Initiative (HCNMI) must be submitted via email by Monday, April 28, 2025, no later than 11:59 pm Eastern time. Composers will be contacted no later than Wednesday, April 30, 2025, regarding acceptance into the program.
2) SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS:
Please send all of your materials to both Robert Kyr at [email protected] and Andrew Clark at [email protected], as follows:
a) YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION:
In your application email, please include the following information:
• Your first and last name;
• Your Harvard email address;
• A second email address if you have one (gmail or other);
• Your cell phone number (and landline, if applicable).
b) SCORES:
Please submit 1-3 scores of your music, either choral or instrumental, but if you have composed vocal music of any type, you are strongly encouraged to submit at least one vocal piece as part of your application. Please attach your score(s) [PDFs] to your email application; please be sure to label each file with your name (in all caps) and the title of your work (for example, First name, all caps [Space] Last name, all caps [Space] Title.
c) RECORDINGS OR MIDI:
In your application email, please submit a link to a recording or MIDI realization of each score that you submit. Please do not use a platform that requires us to sign up for a service or app. For example, the very best way to share your music with us is an unlisted YouTube channel.
d) YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
In the body of your email, please include a brief paragraph or two in which you describe your previous experience in composing choral music and/or vocal music of any kind. You may also describe your experience with instrumental music if you wish.
Questions
If you have questions during the application process, you are always welcome to contact Robert Kyr, HCNMI mentor and composer-in-residence, by email ([email protected]), or by phone or text [(541) 870-1099].
