PREMIERE|Project Festival: Composer Track
Refine your voice. Build your career. Premiere your work.
A Proven Festival for Composers Since 2018.
Now accepting applications for June 2026.
June 23-26, 2026 | Irvine, CA
Since its inception in 2018, PREMIERE|Project Festival has been an international destination for composers seeking a meaningful, professional-level workshop residency. A one-of-a-kind festival, it provides selected composers with a remarkable workshop/commission experience by offering in-depth seminars, mentoring sessions with renowned composers, and interactive rehearsals with an award-winning professional choral ensemble.
Navigation
A Proven Program, Reimagined for the Future
PREMIERE|Project Festival is known for:
Over 75 participating composers who now publish, teach, and compose professionally
A professional ensemble deeply committed to new music and excited to explore and iterate with you
A mentorship culture grounded in care, curiosity, and collaboration
In 2026, the Composer Track remains the heart of PREMIERE|Project Festival – now strengthened by the addition of a Conductor Track, giving every composer a dedicated artistic partner.
What You Receive as a Composer:
Professional Workshop Rehearsals
Your work is rehearsed by CAI’s 26-voice professional ensemble, renowned for its clarity, musicianship, and fluency in contemporary choral music.
You receive:
Three workshop evening rehearsals
Real-time feedback and refinement
The opportunity to adjust and revise your piece between sessions
A professional-level premiere at the end of the festival week as part of CAI’s season
Mentorship Sessions
Mentorship is tailored to you, whether it’s refining craft, discussing career goals, or exploring new directions.
You receive:
An Orientation/Welcome meeting with festival overview and a preliminary workshop on score notation and engraving basics.
A pre-festival Zoom session with a composition faculty member
(4) individual sessions during the festival week
Additional personalized support throughout the festival
Seminars Designed for Today's Composers
PREMIERE|Project Festival addresses the systemic gap: artists learn craft in school, but now how to build a career with said craft. We close that gap.
Daytime sessions cover both artistry and career sustainability, including:
Score clarity & notation
Collaboration with conductors and other performers
Publishing, contracts, and negotiation
Artificial intelligence and electronic music considerations
Multicultural musical ideas and appropriation
Finding or authoring texts for choral compositions
Artistic identity and creative process
Navigating career challenges and professional expectations
A World Premiere Performance
Your piece is premiered by CAI’s professional ensemble for their season finale performance. It’s generally the most highly anticipated performance in the season with audiences frequently calling the PPF performance their favorite. Expect a sold out audience eager to hear your music!
You Receive:
A high-quality audio recording
A high quality multi-camera video recording
Usable recordings for publishers, graduate programs, grant applications, and any other non-commercial usage
Optional ICON Series Distribution
Should you choose, CAI will distribute your score through MusicSpoke providing immediate monetization opportunities where you keep your copyright.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for:
Emerging to mid-career composers
Composers making career pivots or considering jumping from part-time to full-time composing
Artists exploring new or contemporary choral approaches
Composers seeking a collaborative, artist-centered workshop experience
Creators who want professional-level recordings
Musicians seeking a meaningful and supportive peer network
Anyone building toward publication, graduate study, or a sustainable artistic career
Application Requirements
A composition listing
Two scores - one of which must be for chorus
Two recordings of your example scores - one of which must be a live recording.
Short responses to prompts in the application portal.
Details about your proposed piece you plan to write as part of the festival experience. If you have already completed the work, it must not have received a premiere or recorded reading session.
Full application details will appear in the Apply page.
Participation Fee and Scholarships
Application Fee: $35 | Participation Fee: $1,295
Travel and lodging not included.
Limited needs-based scholarships are available.