College of Arts and Humanities > Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music > Areas of Performance/Study > Composition and Theory

Composition and Theory

Apply to Georgia Southern >

Undergraduate Music Application

Graduate Music Application

Composition

The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at Georgia Southern University offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels for students who wish to pursue studies in music composition. The Bachelor and Master of Music in Composition degrees are designed for students interested in writing contemporary concert or art music.

The undergraduate degree in composition includes an introductory class followed by six semesters of individual instruction, and a weekly forum in which students of all levels present their works and receive feedback from their peers and the faculty. Throughout the curriculum, students work with a variety of performance forces that range from solo performer, to chamber ensembles, to orchestra and concert band. Senior students are also required to collaborate with colleagues from other Departments and disciplines within the university, in order to create an interdisciplinary work. The products of all these works are generally presented at the New Music at Southern concert series.

For information on the program please contact Program Director Dr. Martín Gendelman.

The M.M. in Composition allows students to work extensively with a teacher/mentor in broadening their portfolio of compositions in a variety of genres and styles. Students take supporting courses in music technology, advanced analysis, and the history of music. The capstone is a full solo recital involving many different types of soloists, ensembles, and media. Students may elect to do considerable work in the Department’s Electronic and Digital Music Studio.

The On The Verge concert series brings outstanding composers and performers to Georgia Southern for concerts and masterclasses.

New Music at Southern Facebook Page.

On The Verge Concert Series

Dr. Martín Gendelman, Founder and Artistic Director

Mission

Founded in 2012 and directed by composer and Georgia Southern University faculty member Martín Gendelman, On The Verge new music series has made southern Georgia a regular stop for some of the finest performers of contemporary art music in the United States and abroad. Through concerts and outreach activities specially aimed at students of all levels and the general public, the series presents innovative programs featuring a variety of contemporary concert music styles.

Outreach

In addition to high-quality concerts, On The Verge offers a variety of educational opportunities for college students (music majors and non-majors) and members of the community in general, in the form of lectures, workshops, and master classes lead by the very artists featured in the series. Also, On The Verge is partnering with local schools to bring its featured artists to perform for, and interact with, the community’s youngest audiences.

Featured Artists

Past groups and individual performers featured in the series include:

2012/13

Jorge Variego – clarinet and electronics (Argentina)
Dancing Heart – flutes and percussion (United States)

2013/14

Carlos César Rodríguez – piano (Venezuela)
Present-Continuous (University of North Carolina)

2014/15

Blair McMillen – piano (United States)
Stacks – Saxophone Duo and electronics (Switzerland/United States)

2015/16

Jenny Q Chai – piano (China)

2016/17

Da Capo Chamber Players (United States)
SaVaSaTrio (Members of Ensemble Modern – Germany)

2017/18

Daniel Koppelman/Christopher Dobrian – piano and electronics (United States)
Susan Fancher – Saxophone (United States)
Third Coast Percussion (United States)

2018/19

Chartreuse Trio (United States)

2019/20

Bold City Contemporary Ensemble (United States)
Domino Ensemble (United States)

2021/22

Galan Trio (Greece)
Adrianne Munden-Dixon (United States/Canada)

2022/2023

Valentín Garvie (Argentina/UK/Germany)

Sponsorship

The following have been regular sponsors of the series:

Campus Life Enrichment Committee (CLEC)
Department of Music
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS)
The Center for International Studies

In addition, the series has enjoyed the support of local businesses and organizations including:

The Statesboro Herald
Citizens Bank
Three Tree Coffee Roasters
Statesboro Properties

Individual Donor Levels and Benefits

Friend of New Music ($50 to $150)
- Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
- Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter
Patron of New Music ($150 to $300)
- A special On The Verge souvenir gift
- Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
- Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter
On The Verge Partner ($300 to $700)
- Invitation to intimate post-concert dinner with On The Verge Artists
- A special On The Verge souvenir gift
- Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
- Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter
Composers Circle ($700 and up)
- Invitation to private dinner with On The Verge director, Martín Gendelman
- Invitation to intimate post-concert dinner with On The Verge Artists
- A special On The Verge souvenir gift
- Invitation to On The Verge open rehearsals
- Subscription to the Georgia Southern University Department of Music E-newsletter

Corporate Donor Levels and Benefits

$300 and up
- Sponsor listing on program concert page and program notes for one On The Verge concert
- Spotlight feature on On The Verge’s webpage in rotation with other donors at this level.
- Department of Music monthly newsletter article highlighting your company in rotation with other donors at this level.
$1,500 and up
- Option to sponsor an On The Verge concert, sponsor listing on program concert page and program notes for all On The Verge concerts in a season.
- Spotlight feature on On The Verge’s webpage in rotation with other donors at this level.
- Department of Music monthly newsletter article highlighting your company in rotation with other donors at this level.

Donating to On The Verge

Since all concerts and educational activities are free and open to the public, the funding for On The Verge has come primarily from grants and temporary support from academic units within Georgia Southern University. But it takes more than that to consolidate a series like this. If you are interested in supporting On The Verge and contributing to its growth, please consider advertising in our concert programs (for your business) or donating $100.

For more information, please contact ontheverge@georgiasouthern.edu

Music Theory

A vital part of the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music at Georgia Southern, the Music Theory area focuses on furnishing undergraduate music majors with excellent written, aural, and analytical skills.

The Music Theory Sequence (which includes Theory, Ear Training, and Sight Singing courses) provides the students with a theoretical and a practical understanding of the elements of music. It also provides the basis for a solid musicianship, which students are encouraged and expected to cultivate and grow throughout their professional lives. Analytical Techniques offers an opportunity for students to understand the elements previously mentioned in a variety of contexts, making the previous sequence deeply meaningful. All music majors are required to take the sequence during the first four semesters of their degrees.

In addition to the courses for music majors, the Music Theory area also offers two courses in Music Fundamentals for students who are not seeking a music degree but have, nonetheless, an interesting in understanding the basic mechanics of music.