2025 Winter Composer Festival

January 4 - 11, 2025

Austin, Texas

The 2025 festival is an opportunity for up to eight composers, to create, workshop, document and premiere new works in Austin, TX. Graduate students, professionals and festival alumni are all welcome to apply. Applications close Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

The festival is designed to:

  • Highlight the fundamental importance of making new things and doing so together

  • Move traditionally academic activities outside of academia

  • Foster the interchange of ideas between composers

  • Expand concepts of what percussion is and can be

  • Showcase this city we are proud to call home

  • Fellows (Graduate and Professional)

    • Two 90-minute workshops with line upon line on your work

    • A three-hour recording block dedicated to your work

    • Unedited audio and video footage from said three-hour recording block

    • The premiere performance of your work on the final festival concert

    • 30-minute peer-to-peer lessons with all festival participants

    • Lunchtime talks with ATX creatives

    • Housing in Austin, TX (We can’t be responsible for finding housing for partners/spouses/etc. Sorry!)

    • Honorarium (see tab below)

    Alumni

    • One three-hour recording block to use as you see fit

    • Unedited audio and video footage from said recording block

    • Housing in Austin, TX (We can’t be responsible for finding housing for partners/spouses/etc. Sorry!)

    • Honorarium (see tab below)

  • Fellows (Graduate and Professional)

    • Composing an 8-10’ (percussion trio) for an agreed upon instrumentation, and submitting a performance-ready score by November 24, 2024

    • Performing a ca. 10’ solo set on an evening concert 

    • Sharing for ca. 30’ on your work and/or work you’re excited about

    • Your own travel to, from and within Austin

    Alumni

    • Performing a ca. 15-20’ solo set on the January 4, 2025 concert 

    • Your own travel to, from and within Austin

  • Graduate: $250 ($250 security deposit due with contract, $500 paid after all festival responsibilities are complete)

    Alumni: $500 (paid after all festival responsibilities are complete)

    Professional: $1,000 ($500 paid with contract, $500 paid after all festival responsibilities are complete)

  • Graduate and Professional

    • June 19, 2024 at 11:59 PM CST: Application deadline

    • June 26, 2024: Decision notification

    • June 26 - November 24, 2024: Virtual collaborative period

    • November 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM CST: Score deadline*

    • January 4 - 11, 2025: Winter Composer Festival

    *If a performance-ready score is not submitted on time, festival participation will be revoked, without exception.

    Alumni

    • June 19, 2024 at 11:59 PM CST: Application deadline

    • June 26, 2024: Decision notification

    • January 4 - 5, 2025: Winter Composer Festival

  • Tracks

    Q: Which application track should I take?

    A: If you have never attended WCF and are pursuing a graduate degree, even if you consider yourself a professional, please apply in the graduate category.

    If you have never attended WCF and are NOT pursuing a graduate degree, you should apply as a professional.

    If you have attended WCF as a fellow or guest ensemble member, no matter your graduate degree status, please apply as an alumnus.

    Still confused? Email us at info@lineuponlinepercussion.org

    Eligibility

    Q: We’ve worked together in the past. Can I apply to the correct track?

    A: Yes.

    Q: Do I need to have a composition degree to apply?

    A: No.

    Q: I won’t be 21 by the start of the festival. Should I apply?

    A: No.

    Instrumentation

    Q: I’d like to include myself as a performer with lul. Is that OK?

    A: Yes, but we still need our parts by the November 24 score deadline, and putting the whole piece together has to be achievable within two, 90-minute rehearsals.

    Q: How do you guys feel about electronics?

    A: We like them. Go for it.

    Q: How do you guys feel about marimba and/or timpani?

    A: We’re not as keen. And we don’t own either.

    Q: I’ve heard you guys play other instruments. Is that true?

    A: Cullen plays guitar and bass (but not classically).

    Housing

    Q: If I’m accepted, can my partner come?

    A: Yes, but we cannot provide housing for your partner.