2027 COMPOSERS' HUB
Create. Connect. Build Your Career.
A Professional Development Program for Women Composers
LunART’s Composers’ Hub empowers women composers to strengthen their artistic voices, develop new work, and build sustainable careers in music.
In 2027, six selected composers will work with internationally acclaimed composer Sarah Kirkland Snider to create original works for a full string quartet or any combination of these instruments. Through mentorship, collaboration with professional musicians, and career-development workshops, participants will gain the artistic guidance, practical knowledge, and professional connections to support their next steps.
Each composer’s new work will receive a world premiere at the 2027 LunART Festival, with a professional live audio and video recording.
May 18-23, 2027 | Madison, WI
Six Composers. Six New Works. One Transformative Experience.
COMPOSITION
Develop and refine a new work for a full string quartet or any combination of these instruments.
MENTORSHIP
Learn directly from an internationally recognized composer, Sarah Kirkland Snider.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Build the knowledge and tools to navigate a sustainable artistic career.
COLLABORATION
Work with professional musicians and fellow composers.
During the program, selected composers will:
01
Create a brand-new work for string quartet
03
Work directly with professional LunART musicians
05
Attend sessions on practical business and entrepreneurial skills
07
Receive a professional live audio and video recording of the premiere
02
Receive mentorship from Sarah Kirkland Snider
04
Participate in workshops, rehearsals, and feedback sessions
06
Receive a world premiere at the 2027 LunART Festival
08
Build relationships with composers, performers, and arts leaders
MEET YOUR MENTOR
2027 Composer-in-Residence
Sarah Kirkland Snider
Internationally acclaimed composer Sarah Kirkland Snider will lead the 2027 Composers' Hub as a mentor, teacher, and artistic guide.
Throughout the program, Sarah will work with the selected composers through individual mentorship, masterclasses, score discussions, workshops, and rehearsals.
Her experience as a composer and creative professional gives participants the opportunity to learn not only the craft of composition, but also how to navigate a contemporary music career.
How the Program Works: From Application to Premiere
1. APPLY
Submit a chamber music composition written on or after January 1, 2023, that best represents your compositional voice.
4. SEND SCORES
Submit your completed score and performance parts by the established deadline so the musicians can prepare your work for rehearsal.
2. GET SELECTED
Six composers are selected to participate in the 2027 Composers’ Hub.
5. ATTEND
Attend mentorship, workshops, rehearsals, and professional development sessions, and enjoy a highly collaborative process.
3. CREATE
Develop a brand-new composition for a full string quartet or any combination of these instruments with guidance from Snider, including virtual score-development sessions before the festival.
6. PREMIERE
Your new work receives its world premiere at the 2027 LunART Festival,
May 18-23.
YOUR ART. YOUR CAREER. DEVELOP BOTH!
Being a successful composer requires more than writing great music.
Composers' Hub brings artistic development and professional development together, giving participants the opportunity to strengthen both their creative practice and the business skills needed to sustain it.
The goal isn't simply to help you write your next piece. It's to help you build the career that allows you to keep creating.
ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT
-
Individual mentorship
-
Masterclasses
-
Score discussions
-
Professional readings and workshops
-
Composer-performer collaboration
-
Rehearsal and revision
-
World premiere performance
-
Professional audio and video recordings
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
-
Financial literacy for artists
-
Entrepreneurship and career strategy
-
Grant writing and fundraising
-
Contracts and commissioning
-
Copyright and intellectual property
-
Marketing and professional visibility
-
Building relationships and networks
-
Creating sustainable income streams
It means so much that LunART presented my piece with such care and finesse. Thank you for your support and vision in bringing my piece to life, and for the opportunity to connect with amazing faculty and colleagues. It was a pivotal experience in my professional development, and I am so grateful.
Mari Alice Conrad
Composers Hub Cohort 2026
Program Fee & What's Included
The Composers’ Hub program fee includes artistic mentorship, professional development, collaboration with professional musicians, a world premiere at the 2027 LunART Festival, professional audio and video recordings, and lodging at the Lowell Center in Madison, Wisconsin.
Participants may choose between two accommodation options:
-
Shared room: $1,550 per composer
-
Private room: $1,750 per composer
Both options include the same program activities and benefits. The $200 difference reflects the cost of private accommodations.
Your Program Fee Includes
01. ARTISTIC MENTORSHIP
Individual guidance, score discussions, masterclasses, workshops, and feedback from Composer-in-Residence Sarah Kirkland Snider, including a small number of Zoom sessions during the score-development process leading up to the festival.
04. PROFESSIONAL RECORDING
High-quality audio and video documentation of your premiere for your portfolio, website, grant applications, and future professional promotion, without additional obligations to LunART.
02. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Practical sessions on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, career strategy, grants and fundraising, contracts, copyright, marketing, and professional networking.
05. ACCOMODATION
Lodging at Lowell Center Downtown Madison for the duration of the program. Choose between shared and private room options.
03. PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE
Collaboration with professional musicians, rehearsals, and the world premiere of your new piece at the 2027 LunART Festival.
06. PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY
Opportunities to connect with fellow composers, professional performers, mentors, and arts leaders while building relationships that can support your artistic and professional growth.
YOUR MUSIC. YOUR RIGHTS. Composers retain all rights to their original compositions. LunART does not claim ownership of participants’ music.
Additional Costs: The program fee does not include travel to and from Madison, meals, or personal expenses.
LunART will provide complimentary local bus passes and additional transportation assistance, including potential rides between the Lowell Center and the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) Center as needed.
Flexible Payment Options: We understand that investing in your artistic development is a significant commitment. To help make the Composers’ Hub accessible, LunART offers a flexible payment plan.
A $200 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place in the Composers’ Hub after you're accepted. You will pay the remaining balance in three installments, depending on your selected accommodation option.
Shared Room — Total Program Fee: $1,550
-
December 29, 2026: $200 deposit
-
January 15, 2027: $450
-
February 15, 2027: $450
-
March 15, 2027: $450
Private Room — Total Program Fee: $1,750
-
December 29, 2026: $200 deposit
-
January 15, 2027: $500
-
February 15, 2027: $500
-
March 15, 2027: $550
If you need additional flexibility, please contact LunART to discuss possible arrangements.
Participants will confirm their accommodation preference upon accepting their offer. We will provide payment instructions and the applicable schedule with the acceptance materials.
Who Can Apply
Women composers, including cisgender and transgender women, ages 18 and older who are in the early stages of their compositional careers, are encouraged to apply. The program is particularly suited to composers who:
-
Have had limited professional performances of their work.
-
Are seeking tools, resources, and strategies to advance their composition careers.
-
Would benefit from constructive feedback, mentorship, and support as they develop a new composition.
To Be Considered, You Must Submit:
-
A chamber music composition written on or after January 1, 2023, that best represents your compositional voice.
-
Works for any chamber ensemble are eligible; the submitted work does not need to be written for string quartet.
-
A score and recording of the submitted work, following the file-format requirements below.
-
A brief essay outlining your compositional philosophy and explaining why you wish to participate in the Composers’ Hub program.
Selected composers will create a new composition for string quartet (two violins, viola, and cello) or any combination of these instruments as part of the program.
To Submit, You'll Need
SCORE
PDF of your composition.
BIO
100 words or fewer.
RECORDING
MP3, AIF, WAV or MIDI audio recording.
SHORT ESSAY *
Between 300-350 words.
* Compositional Philosophy and Statement of Interest: Describe your compositional philosophy, artistic voice, and creative process. Explain why you are a strong fit for the Composers' Hub, what you hope to gain from the program, and how this experience would support your artistic and professional growth.
Program Timeline
Application Opens: OCTOBER 19
Application Deadline: NOVEMBER 30, 11:59pm CST
Results Announcement: DECEMBER 15
Virtual Sessions: JANUARY - MAY, 2027 (including a score-development process with creative feedback sessions)
In-Person Festival Dates: MAY 18-23, 2027
Housing and Travel
LunART is committed to making the Composers’ Hub experience accessible to selected participants traveling to Madison, Wisconsin.
Housing
Lodging will be provided at the Lowell Center on the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus for the duration of the program. Participants may choose between shared accommodations for $1,550 or a private room for $1,750. Both options include the full Composers’ Hub program.
The Lowell Center is conveniently located near the historic Memorial Union, the beautiful Lake Mendota waterfront, and a variety of shops, cafés, and restaurants.
Meals are not included and are the responsibility of each participant. We will provide additional lodging details upon acceptance.
Travel and Local Transportation
Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own transportation to and from Madison, Wisconsin. Madison is accessible by air through Dane County Regional Airport, with additional travel options available through Milwaukee and Chicago.
Festival activities will take place at the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO) Center, approximately a 20-minute bus ride from the Lowell Center.
To help participants travel between accommodations and festival activities, LunART will provide complimentary local bus passes and additional transportation assistance, including potential rides between the two venues as needed.
Participants should plan accordingly when arranging their travel and daily schedules.
Accessibility
LunART strives to make its programs accessible to all participants. Please contact us with any accessibility questions or accommodation requests before applying so we can discuss your needs.
Frequently asked questions
For additional questions, please contact LunART’s Artistic Director, Dr. Iva Ugrčić, at iva@lunartfestival.org.
Composers' Hub Testimonials
