Composers entering SFCM this fall will learn how to employ the latest digital tools to practice their age-old art. SFCMs Technology and Applied Composition (TAC) program, first outlined in March 2014 as part of President Stull’s strategic vision and plan, will teach core composition skills like theory, orchestration and improvisation along with scoring, sound design and recording for film, games and new media. The program has taken shape under the leadership of MaryClare Brzytwa, SFCM’s Associate Dean for New Media and Music Technology.

During the past year, the Conservatory has invited award-winning artists in the recording, film and game music industries to serve as TAC visiting faculty and advisors. They include Jeff Beal, composer of the Emmy-nominated score to House of Cards, Leslie Ann Jones, multiple Grammy Award winning recording engineer and Director of Music Recording and Scoring at Skywalker Sound, and Austin Wintory, whose score for the game Journey received the first ever Grammy nomination for a video game soundtrack. Students will learn all aspects of compositional practice and history with SFCM’s acclaimed academic faculty and have multiple opportunities to collaborate on concert premieres with fellow student performers.

SFCM also hosted a soundtrack recording session for the new video game Gathering Sky. The project christened TAC’s brand new state-of-the-art recording, mixing and sound studios (see below). Visiting faculty member and game composer Dren McDonald led string and woodwind students in a performance of his original score. Faculty member and recording engineer Jason O’Connell recorded the soundtrack on studio equipment sponsored by Meyer Sound, sE Electronics and Rupert Neve Designs. Game developer John Austin oversaw the session. It was the first example of the level of artistic collaboration, real-world training and industry partnership that are destined to become hallmarks of the new program.

The TAC program was featured recently on the public radio podcast Top Score. Listen here.