The Preparatory Division’s commissioning of new classical music compositions both enriches the classical music repertoire and forges a path toward a more inclusive and pedagogically valuable repertoire for young musicians. We have commissioned and premiered more than 50 new works in recent years, and with the launch of the Kayden Music Commissioning Program at Juilliard Pre-College, the work will continue with approximately 10 new commissions annually moving forward.
The development of each commission—orchestral, wind ensemble, choral, chamber, and solo works—is a collaborative effort in which Preparatory Division faculty and selected composers consider the artistic and technical skills of our students to ensure the compositions are appropriately challenging and engaging for young musicians. Composers are selected through a thoughtful process guided by Preparatory Division faculty members and administrators, many of whom perform the world premieres. The initiative also includes co-commissions, allowing for the involvement of more young musicians and educators as well as increased performance opportunities, thus enriching the musical experience of all involved. The resulting works expose our broader community to the creation and performance of new music and increase their understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures and perspectives.
We strongly encourage everyone to engage with this initiative, whether it be through listening, performing, or teaching this rich body of work. You can find out how to access these works either by clicking on the name of the work below or by contacting us at [email protected].
Weston Sprott
Dean and Director, Preparatory Division
| Composer | Title | Instrumentation | Premiere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keiko Abe * | Toki no Nagare | Marimba | December 10, 2022 |
| Kenneth Amis * | The Blown Through Etudes | Tuba | |
| Jasmine Barnes ** | The Boroughs | Double Brass Quintet | May 12, 2024 |
| Nicolas Benevides ** | Querencia | Orchestra | April 20, 2024 |
| Kenji Bunch * | Blue Hour Duo | Viola, Piano | January 6, 2024 |
| Kenji Bunch * | Sketches for Mr. South | Violin, Piano | January 6, 2024 |
| Luis Casal * | Solo Etudes for Violin | Violin | |
| Chen Yi * | Impressions From Chinese Zodiac | Saxophone | |
| Valerie Coleman | The Calling of the Wind! | Wind Ensemble | November 18, 2021 |
| Jack Damon | After a Hundred Years | Orchestra | December 16, 2023 |
| Jordyn Davis | IMPRESSIONS | Brass Quintet | April 20, 2024 |
| Jordyn Davis ** | As I AM | Orchestra | May 6, 2023 |
| Kevin Day * | Pine Lake | Trumpet, Piano | November 12, 2022 |
| Kevin Day | Apricity | Trombone, Piano | April 20, 2024 |
| James Diaz ** | and does the Moon also fall? | Orchestra | May 6, 2023 |
| Wayne J. du Maine (BM ’89, MM ’91, trumpet) * | Etudes for Trumpet | Trumpet | |
| Sharon Farber * | Morrisiano Oriental Fantasy | Guitar | October 15, 2022 |
| Nirmali Fenn * | When Shadows Hold Their Breath | Clarinet, Piano | October 15, 2022 |
| Thomas Flippin ** | The Lost Village of Seneca | String Ensemble | April 2, 2023 |
| Xavier Dubois Foley * | Latin Paradise | Bass, Piano | November 12, 2022 |
| Adolphus Hailstork * | Blue Bag 2 | Bassoon, Piano | October 15, 2022 |
| Adolphus Hailstork * | Eleven Studies | Oboe | |
| Timothy Higgins | Leap | Trumpet | April 20, 2024 |
| Huang Ruo (MM ’02, DMA ’08) * | The Lunar New York, Day Dream, The Winding Road, ACTIVATE | Bassoon | |
| James Lee III | Towards Irresistible Praise | Wind Ensemble | April 29, 2023 |
| Allison Loggins-Hull * | Gifts | Solo Flute | October 15, 2024 |
| Lauren McCall ** | Percussion Ensemble | May 12, 2024 | |
| Jessica Meyer (BM ’96, MM ’98, viola) * | 8 Etudes for Viola | Viola | |
| Tamar Muskal * | 12 Etudes for Clarinet | Clarinet | |
| Brian Raphael Nabors * | Ad Terram | Oboe, Piano | November 12, 2022 |
| Brian Raphael Nabors * | Ten Images Etudes for Solo Flute | Flute | |
| Kevin Newton | Hill House | Horn, Piano | April 20, 2024 |
| Marcus Norris | For All That Comes Next | Orchestra | May 4, 2024 |
| Nkeiru Okoye * | Love and Longing: Sung Monologues Inspired by Classic Literature 1. “Whatever our souls are made of” (inspired by Wuthering Heights) 2. “Mr. Rochester” (inspired by Jane Eyre) 3. “Darcy Proposes” (inspired by Pride and Prejudice) |
Voice | February 11, 2023 |
| Joshua Pantoja (BM ’04, horn) * | Basics and Colors | Horn | |
| Rufus Reid * | Melodic Etudes | Double Bass | |
| Homay Schmitz * | First Bloom | Tuba, Piano | October 15, 2022 |
| Jeff Scott * | Xangô, God of Thunder | Trombone, Piano | November 12, 2022 |
| Nina Shekhar * | Hush | Solo Harp | November 12, 2022 |
| Roberto Sierra * | Sonatina | Horn, Piano | November 12, 2022 |
| Derrick Skye * | In thy presence, I melt them all away | Cello, Piano | November 12, 2022 |
| Manuel Sosa (BM ’91, MM ’94, DMA ’02) * | Stillarum | Organ | November 12, 2022 |
| Andres Soto ** | Fantasía en la Plaza Vignettes of Lincoln Center | Orchestra | April 20, 2024 |
| Kara Talve | Inner Voices | Tuba, Piano | April 20, 2024 |
| Karen Tanaka | Dark Horizons | Brass trio with piano | April 20, 2024 |
| Karen Tanaka * | Sensation | Piano | November 12, 2022 |
| Elijah Thomas ** | Dectet: an antiphon for all times (for double wind quintet and voices) | Double Wind Quintet | May 12, 2024 |
| Ivan Trevino * | Music for the Young Percussionist | Percussion | |
| Ehren Valmé (BM ’21, trombone) * | Studies for Trombone | Trombone | |
| Horacio Fernández Vázquez (BM ’22) * | Natalia | Bass Trombone, Piano | April 20, 2024 |
| Mary D. Watkins | The People's Awakening | Orchestra | April 12, 2024 |
| Trevor Weston ** | Subwaves | Orchestra | May 6, 2023 |
| Kendall Williams | Village | Percussion Ensemble | May 6, 2023 |
* Commissioning Initiative
** Composing Inclusion
For more information and to access these works, write to [email protected].
More Resources
Prep Division Commissions Broaden Field
Juilliard’s Preparatory Division Announces 31 Commissions to Build More Diverse Future for Classical Music
Inaugural Composing Inclusion Composer Commissions Announced at The Juilliard School
Helping Students find Their Path
Pre-College Orchestra Plays Valerie Coleman's 'Umoja' November 18, 2021
Composing Inclusion Commissioning Project Begins November 11, 2021|
Juilliard Preparatory Division Collaboration With New York Philharmonic and American
Composers Forum Receives Sphinx Venture Fund for New Commissioning Partnership
Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program (MAP) Welcomes Flutist and Composer Valerie Coleman for Residency in 2021-2
It Took a “Village”