Music (MA), Composition Concentration
The Master of Arts degree program in Composition offers advanced studies to support the development of students’ personal styles. We offer classes and private lessons in a wide variety of topics, including traditional and electronic composition, orchestration, arranging, counterpoint analysis, style and history. New student works are performed frequently before faculty, mentors, peers and guest artists during masterclasses and recitals. The goal of the Composition program is to prepare students for the professional music world and doctoral programs. The school prides itself to being open to all styles and aesthetics of music as demonstrated by the varying styles of the faculty. Students are encouraged to find their own compositional voices, as well as to discover and study old and new sounds and aesthetics.
The Cali School of Music offers the following options for graduate studies – please feel free to navigate to the programs that interest you!
- Advanced Cert in Music Education
- MA in Music Education
- MAT in Music
- Post BA in Music Education
- MA in Music Therapy
- MM in Music Performance
- Music Artist Diploma
- MA in Music Theory/Composition
Please refer to our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees need not submit transcripts. Instead, they must submit a course-by-course evaluation along with U.S. degree equivalency information of their coursework from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or by Educated Choices. Please note: Applicants who have an international education may not apply as a last-term senior.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: Rolling admission.
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Music (MA) program, Composition Concentration:
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- Statement of Purpose – Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions:
- What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
- In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
- Letters of Recommendation: Two.
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
Auditions for Graduate Music Applicants
Applicants to this program are required to register for & complete an audition and/or interview as part of the Cali School’s review process. To register for an audition you must first submit an application to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Once submitted, a link to the audition registration page will be available to you on the checklist in your application portal. Information regarding the audition/interview requirements, available dates, methods, fees, & deadlines can all be found on The Cali School’s Audition Information Page. Please be sure to review the audition information thoroughly to ensure you are fully prepared at the time of your audition.
For more information, please visit the Music (MA), Composition Concentration program listing in the course catalog.
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Music (MA), Composition Concentration Program Coordinator:
*During the summer months, there will be a rotating department chair available to answer your inquiry. Find the updated summer chair for this program.*
Program Coordinator: Aaron Helgeson
Office: Chapin Hall G42
Email: helgesona@montclair.edu