Write the music you dreamed of.

SFCM's Composition program pairs individualized mentorship with a vibrant community of performers, giving students countless opportunities to hear their music brought to life. Closely working with world-class faculty and fellow musicians, composers develop their artistic voice while writing for a wide range of ensembles and performance settings.

Study with acclaimed composers whose work continues to shape today's musical landscape. Faculty include Chair David Conte, one of the last students of legendary pedagogue Nadia Boulanger; Mason Bates, whose opera The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay premiered at the Metropolitan Opera in 2025; and Jake Heggie, whose opera Intelligence was workshopped at SFCM before earning a 2026 GRAMMY Award.

Beyond the classroom, composers regularly hear their work performed through reading sessions, concerts, and competitions, with opportunities to write for orchestra, voice, chamber ensembles, and more. Thanks to the faculty's deep connections throughout the Bay Area, students have also earned commissions from local performing organizations and community partners.

Award-winning David Conte is chair of the Composition Department and the composer of more than two hundred works.

The Composition Department strongly emphasize interdepartmental collaboration, matching composers with performers across SFCM's departments.

Every year, SFCM hosts the Highsmith Competition, an internal composition contest that grants the winner a performance of the submitted work by the Conservatory Orchestra.