Music composition at University of the Pacific is a fully immersive and broad major which will position you well to navigate this ever-evolving field of music. You will pend extensive time writing works for a variety of ensembles, learning a broad range of compositional techniques and honing your own compositional voice. You will compose for solo instruments, small ensembles, voice, chorus, percussion, digital media and larger musical forces such as orchestra and band. Specialized studies in orchestration, contemporary performance techniques, electronic music and film scoring will add crucial skills to your creative tool kit.

Faculty

Eric Dudley

Eric Dudley

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Pat Grimm

Pat Grimm

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Hendel Almetus

Hendel Almetus

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Andrew Conklin

Andrew Conklin

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Margaret Perry

Margaret Perry

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Eric Wood

Eric Wood

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Learn how to apply and audition

Music composition major Mary Denney
Outstanding student
Mary Denney '24

Mary believes that collaboration with peer musicians and living composers is crucial for a contemporary music composition major. Mary’s score will be performed at the 2023 Women Composers Festival of Hartford, Connecticut, as one of the winning works submitted for their Emerging Composers Workshop.

Film and Media

Pursue your passion for film and game music with elective courses in media scoring, film production and music technology.

Songwriting and Production

Take courses in music business and popular songwriting while learning your way around our professional-level recording studio.

Foundational Skills

Study traditional counterpoint and orchestration alongside your one-on-one composition lessons with faculty composers.

Our graduates are positioned to succeed

Many have gone on to attend top graduate programs and have pursued successful careers in the commercial music and media industries, as well as in the fields of academia and education. Several have received major honors, including Emmy Awards, Guggenheim Fellowships and Fulbright Grants.

A college student standing outside by a building
Outstanding Alumnus
Wyatt Cannon '22

Music composition graduate Wyatt Cannon is a 2018 winner of the SF Search composition competition; a participant in the 2021 Fifth House Ensemble’s Fresh Inc Festival; and a participant in the 2022 Valencia International Performing Arts Summer Festival, Spain. Find out why he chose to study at Pacific.

Music composition minor
Music Theory

The minor is open only to music majors (except music composition majors) as a secondary area. If you plan to major in music performance, this minor may extend your knowledge of music theory to support your performance activities or build on your compositional interests.

Professor Andrew Conklin at a scoreboard
conservatory student in Owen recording studio
Music composition minor
Creative Music Technology

This minor is open to all students and allows you to undertake advanced coursework in areas such as audio production, digital and analog synthesis, computer music and recording engineering. You will pursue creative projects and take courses with faculty in the Music Composition and Music Industry Studies programs.

Contact Us

Faye Spanos Concert Hall
Conservatory of Music
209.946.2418

Faye Spanos Concert Hall, 3rd Floor
3601 Pacific Ave.
Stockton, CA 95211