Students will rehearse weekly with small ensembles in the CYE Chamber Music program. Chamber music encourages teamwork, leadership, individuality, responsibility, musical expression, and belonging in a small group setting. There are a variety of chamber groups at different levels of skill and experience within the CYE chamber music program coached by DSO musicians. Depending on experience, chamber groups may have opportunities to perform in many settings including formal recitals, competitions, and volunteer and paying gigs. Weekly rehearsal times will be decided by the ensemble and coach once groups have been formed.

Students develop core skills in writing melodies, harmonizing, phrasing, and studying musical forms. For a final project, students create short compositions that will be performed and recorded by class participants. All students will learn how to use MuseScore, a free musical notation software, as well as audio recording/editing software.

This class is open to students in Civic Concert Band, Civic Symphonic Band, Civic Concert String Orchestra, Civic Philharmonic Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, Detroit Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Once registered, we will ask students who already compose to submit a piece they have written in order to place each student in the appropriate level. Students who are new to composing are also welcome to join.

This class requires a minimum of 13 students and will runs the entire season.

Composition is taught by DSO cellist and composer Jeremy Crosmer, and jazz trumpeter and composer Kris Johnson.