Composition

Choose any of our three composition courses—jazz, classical, or popular—to suit your interest. Weekly individual lessons with one of our top-notch composition teachers will focus and guide your creative process.

Examples of work by student composers

Jeff Mund '19 recorded an album of original jazz compositions with his Hamline jazz quartet for his senior project.

Danielle Jagelski '15 composed Alleluia No. 1 which was selected by the "First Readings Project" to receive a premiere in Minneapolis.

Andrew Brady '14 composed an underscore to the Hamline Theatre's production of Hamlet for his Music Honors Project. Andrew was also commissioned to write a choral piece for the 2015 graduation ceremonies.

Steven Gernes '10 went on to graduate school at USC in Film Scoring. Visit Steven Gernes' website.

Meet our teachers

Jazz Composition
Zacc Harris, jazz composer and guitarist, was hailed by City Pages as the 2011 Best Jazz Artist and by the Star Tribune as 2012 Best Jazz Artist; Harris also won a McKnight Performing Artist Fellowship in 2015. The Zacc Harris Group is dedicated to performing his original compositions and arrangements. Composing platforms: primarily guitar, bass, piano. View full bio  Visit Zacc Harris' website.

Popular Composition
David Crittenden, classical guitarist and composer, is equal parts performer, composer and teacher. Crittenden was a member of the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet for ten years and the group continues to perform and record his compositions. Composing platforms: guitar, voice, piano, and computer. View full bio  Visit David Crittenden's website.

Music composition program news

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July 1, 2024

Gernes ’10 Wins Daytime Emmys

Steve Gernes ’10 (BA, Music Composition ). has won three Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on the Netflix series "Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones." Gernes featured as one of the show's composers, and was cited for Outstanding Music Direction...

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