2026 Summer Camp for Composers
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Curriculum
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Requirements
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Registration
- Submit the Application Form by email to [email protected]
- Must include a sample of your work (notated score or performance audio)
- Deadline: June 1st, 2026
Instructors
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Dr. Jeff Kryka
Los Angeles-based composer, orchestrator, and conductor Jeff Kryka has been awarded by Turner Classic Movies, ASCAP, the RMALA, and the Henry Mancini Foundation. His work has been featured in major motion pictures, TV series, video games, and heard in concert halls around the world. Projects he's contributed to have earned over $23 billion, with 10 films exceeding $1 billion at the global box office. Originally from Rochester, MN, Kryka studied music composition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with composers Laura Schwendinger, Stephen Dembski, and Joel Naumann, receiving his undergraduate degree in 2006. He did graduate study at the University of California-Los Angeles with composers Paul Chihara, Roger Bourland, Ian Krouse, and David Lefkowitz, receiving his masters degree in 2008, and his PhD in 2011. At UCLA he also studied film music with composers Charles Fox, Laura Karpman, and orchestration with Bruce Broughton. He has taught music theory, ear training, and composition at UCLA and the Colburn Conservatory of Music, and he is the Chair of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Alumni Board. He is a Steinway Artist. |
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Gina Coletti, MM
Violist Gina Coletti was born in Seoul, Korea and raised in the USA. Ms. Coletti received a MM from The Juilliard School and a BA in Music from Stanford University where she was awarded the Golden Medal in the Humanities. She has been an active chamber musician, studio musician and orchestral player. She has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, served as principal of the Mozart Chamber Orchestra and on numerous movie scores, commercials, and television appearances. She has performed alongside popular icons from, Prince, Alcia Keys. Carrie Underwood and Bruno Mars. A dedicated educator, Ms. Coletti currently i s the director o f classical music studies a t the Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences i n Santa Monica, home o f the renown Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute. She also teaches viola and was the former chair o f chamber music a t the Colburn Community School o f Performing Arts. She was named Outstanding Teacher o f the Year b y the American String Teachers Association (CA) i n 2022. She is founder of ViolaFest Los Angeles and is a past president o f the Southern California Viola Society. She was honored b y the City o f Los Angeles i n City Hall for her musical contributions t o the community during Los Angeles Music Week. |
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Carlos Durán
UCLA The Herb Alpert School of Music PhD candidate in Music Composition Carlos Durán (b.1992) is a composer and guitarist from Colombia who writes for both concert and media. His music has been performed at Carnegie Hall, The Royal Danish Academy, and by the most important Colombian ensembles such as Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia. A recent finalist of Krakow FMF Young Talent Award and a Sundance Film Music Lab alumnus, His work includes the Amazon Prime Original Series Filthy Envy, additional music for National Geographic Channel shows The 90’s and the Emmy nominated series Arrepentidos and the India Catalina Award winner Natalia: Crimen y Castigo. |
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Warren Brown
Renowned Hollywood recording engineer and mixer known for his work on Lightyear, The Batman, and the Spider-Man and Star Trek franchises. |
Syllabus
Provisional Schedule:
Class 1: 1-3pm
Class 2: 7-8:30pm
Class 3: 7-8:30pm
Class 4: 1-3pm
Class 5: 7-8:30pm
Class 6: 7-8:30pm
Specific dates TBD
Classrooms TBD
Recording Session TBD
Overview:
In this 2-week program you will learn the technique and skills required to write and record music for an orchestral ensemble, whether it be for concert or visual media. You'll be guided through the process by award-winning composers and musicians, who have decades of experience in the music industry. You will interact and learn from instructors in both a classroom & 1-on-1 settings. Beginners and experienced composers are welcome, all that is required is that you have an interest in learning more about composition and how the music you play is put together. The program will conclude with a recording project on a scoring stage at a major recording studio in Hollywood.
Recording Project:
In this course you will be building to an eventual scoring session with professional studio musicians. You can choose to write a piece of concert music or film music (scored “to picture”). You will conduct your music and Jeff will guide you with your preparation every step of the way.
Instrumentation (53 players):
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in Bb
2 Bassoons
4 French Horns in F
3 Trumpets in Bb
3 Trombones
1 Timpani
2 Orch Percussion
1 Harp
1 Piano
30 Strings (8 Violin 1, 8 Violin 2, 6 Viola, 5 Cello, 3 Contrabass)
Recommended Notation Programs:
Provisional Course Outline:
Class 1:
Introductions. Camp Goals and Overview.
- How do you make decisions as a composer?
- How can composers best convey their musical ideas?
- Scoring session requirements, framework & benchmarks
- Ca. 3min compositions
- Can be written to a film clip or can be a standalone “concert” piece
- Students will conduct their own work at the scoring session.
- Score study #1 (look & listen)
What is orchestration?
- How can we learn from what other composers have done?
- How can we use orchestration?
- Unique orchestration ideas / extended techniques
Class 2:
Writing film music
- what are the differences and similarities to writing concert music?
- Using Themes & storytelling
- examples of orchestration and style for film vs concerts
- How is music used in film and how to establish a “point of view”
- Score study #2 (look & listen)
- Discuss ideas for your compositions share any initial sketches
Class 3:
- 1st DRAFT of compositions Due (Benchmark 1)
- discuss and share compositions as a group
- Score study #3 (look & listen)
Class 4:
Working with Musicians - meet our concertmaster, Mark Robertson (Date TBD)
Conducting
- Conducting Overview & Techniques
- Score Study #4 (look & listen)
- 2nd DRAFT of compositions due (Benchmark 2)
Class 5:
Mixing & Recording meet our Engineer - Warren Brown (date TBD)
- Share composition progress
- Score Study #5 (look & listen)
- 3rd draft of compositions due (Benchmark 3) final notes/adjustments
Class 6:
- Making Parts
- Final thoughts, preparing for recording session.
- Recording process, etiquette and advice
- Final Draft of Compositions Due (Benchmark 4)
- Scores and parts must be completed (Benchmark 5)
- Score Study #6 (look & listen)
Final Scoring Session (3 hours / per session - Details TBD)
Class 1: 1-3pm
Class 2: 7-8:30pm
Class 3: 7-8:30pm
Class 4: 1-3pm
Class 5: 7-8:30pm
Class 6: 7-8:30pm
Specific dates TBD
Classrooms TBD
Recording Session TBD
Overview:
In this 2-week program you will learn the technique and skills required to write and record music for an orchestral ensemble, whether it be for concert or visual media. You'll be guided through the process by award-winning composers and musicians, who have decades of experience in the music industry. You will interact and learn from instructors in both a classroom & 1-on-1 settings. Beginners and experienced composers are welcome, all that is required is that you have an interest in learning more about composition and how the music you play is put together. The program will conclude with a recording project on a scoring stage at a major recording studio in Hollywood.
Recording Project:
In this course you will be building to an eventual scoring session with professional studio musicians. You can choose to write a piece of concert music or film music (scored “to picture”). You will conduct your music and Jeff will guide you with your preparation every step of the way.
Instrumentation (53 players):
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in Bb
2 Bassoons
4 French Horns in F
3 Trumpets in Bb
3 Trombones
1 Timpani
2 Orch Percussion
1 Harp
1 Piano
30 Strings (8 Violin 1, 8 Violin 2, 6 Viola, 5 Cello, 3 Contrabass)
Recommended Notation Programs:
- MuseScore: (Free) https://musescore.org/en/download
- Sibelius: (Student discounts are available) https://www.avid.com/sibelius
Provisional Course Outline:
Class 1:
Introductions. Camp Goals and Overview.
- How do you make decisions as a composer?
- How can composers best convey their musical ideas?
- Scoring session requirements, framework & benchmarks
- Ca. 3min compositions
- Can be written to a film clip or can be a standalone “concert” piece
- Students will conduct their own work at the scoring session.
- Score study #1 (look & listen)
What is orchestration?
- How can we learn from what other composers have done?
- How can we use orchestration?
- Unique orchestration ideas / extended techniques
Class 2:
Writing film music
- what are the differences and similarities to writing concert music?
- Using Themes & storytelling
- examples of orchestration and style for film vs concerts
- How is music used in film and how to establish a “point of view”
- Score study #2 (look & listen)
- Discuss ideas for your compositions share any initial sketches
Class 3:
- 1st DRAFT of compositions Due (Benchmark 1)
- discuss and share compositions as a group
- Score study #3 (look & listen)
Class 4:
Working with Musicians - meet our concertmaster, Mark Robertson (Date TBD)
Conducting
- Conducting Overview & Techniques
- Score Study #4 (look & listen)
- 2nd DRAFT of compositions due (Benchmark 2)
Class 5:
Mixing & Recording meet our Engineer - Warren Brown (date TBD)
- Share composition progress
- Score Study #5 (look & listen)
- 3rd draft of compositions due (Benchmark 3) final notes/adjustments
Class 6:
- Making Parts
- Final thoughts, preparing for recording session.
- Recording process, etiquette and advice
- Final Draft of Compositions Due (Benchmark 4)
- Scores and parts must be completed (Benchmark 5)
- Score Study #6 (look & listen)
Final Scoring Session (3 hours / per session - Details TBD)