Artistic Leadership Workshop: December 29 – January 2

This new artistic leadership workshop equips emerging composers with essential pedagogical, advocacy, and collaborative skills, with one standout participant selected to join a future Soundbox program in a resident faculty or administrative role.

Structured around an intimate composition and recording residency, the program focuses on building and strengthening artistic partnerships between composers and performers. Through hands-on rehearsal coaching, seminars, and collaborative discussions, participants develop practical confidence in their communication, teaching, and artistic leadership.

Application deadline: November 25, 2026.

This program takes place in Sarasota, FL.

Apply Today

Curriculum

Artistic leadership begins with clear communication and strong partnerships between composers and performers. Here are the most important components of the workshop:

❋ Composition Workshop

Each participant receives two lessons with a faculty mentor ahead of the residency. Composers may write a short work for an assigned solo or duo instrumentation (string instruments and piano only) or submit an existing work for the same instrumentation. Works should not exceed 10 minutes.

❋ Masterclassing a Masterclass

A workshop focused on effective rehearsal leadership and pedagogical communication. Fellows practice articulating musical concepts clearly under rehearsal conditions, learning how to give direct, productive feedback to performers and effectively translate artistic vision in public masterclass settings

❋ Recording Session

All works are recorded by our recording engineer-in-residence, Eric Black. The professional audio and video recording captures a live performance of the work, not a heavily edited studio production. Composers receive their recording after the residency.

❋ Speaking for the Composer

Artistic director Max Tan presents on the performer’s relationship with the musical work concept, which emerged in the early 1800s and shaped concert etiquette and our reliance on recordings. Seminars and group discussions explore the vision of a mission-driven artist.

❋ Intragenerational Emphasis and Connection

This program supports the symbiotic relationships between composers and performers, particularly helping young composers find intragenerational support. The small solo and duo instrumentation enables deeper artistic conversations and partnerships.

❋ Management and Curatorial Exercises

Participants build a concert program and residency around their new or existing work, while resident faculty advise on the administrative, business, and artistic sides of the project. The exercise considers how curation can evolve the musical canon.

Faculty

  • Sean Friar

    Composer

  • Max Tan

    Violin

  • Jihyun Baik

    Violin/viola

  • Camden Archambeau

    Cello

  • Kwan Yi

    Piano

  • TianYi Li

    Piano

  • Eric Black

    Recording engineer

  • Additional Faculty to be updated

Additional Opportunities

Beyond the workshop itself, the residency can lead to:

❋ Faculty Position

At least one participant will be awarded a place on the faculty of a future Soundbox Fellowship Program in Sarasota and on tours abroad in the upcoming season.

❋ Concert Programming

Faculty may select at least one recorded work for next season’s concert programming. If its composer has not already received an administrative or teaching opportunity, they will be offered a guest lecture at a future program event.

❋ Media Features

Previous participants have been featured on Classical WSMR in interviews and rebroadcasted performances through Modern Notebook. Soundbox Ventures builds media partnerships in its local bases around the world.

❋ Partner Collaborations

Alumni have collaborated with musicians from Soundbox’s partnering organizations, such as ensembleNEWSRQ. Additional opportunities may arise.

Application Dates & Costs

Apply Today

Applications Open: November 6, 2026

Deadline: November 25, 2026

Acceptance Notice: November 28, 2026

Matriculation Deadline: December 4, 2026

ELIGIBILITY

Composers must be actively engaged in the craft, comfortable with collaborating with performers, and proficient in English.

Most candidates appropriate for this program will likely be at least 18 years of age. However, if gifted applicants are accepted, any participant under the age of 18 must attend with a parent or legal guardian, with additional fees applying towards accommodation costs.

PROGRAM COSTS

For a full break down of tuition and residency costs as well as our need-based financial aid program, please visit our Costs and Financial Aid page.

Tuition: $2,000

Tuition includes lessons and workshop mentorship, seminar courses, festival event offerings, musician and recording session costs. Need-based financial aid is available to reduce tuition burdens. Please note the following:

  • Financial aid applicants should include the Financial Aid Supplement with their application.

  • No full scholarships are awarded. Aid is awarded upon assessed need. Maximum awards are projected not to exceed 70% of tuition.

  • Financial aid may not be used to reduce residency fee costs.

Residency Cost: $800

Residency fees are a burden of all participants and cover venue costs such as lodging and transportation. There is no waiver or financial aid for the residency fee. All participants receive a private bedroom with a study desk in a 3-bedroom apartment unit with fully equipped kitchen, common room space, and free in-unit laundry.