The Berlin Academy of American Music
presents
Berlin
Transatlantic
Composers
Workshop
June 29 - July 5, 2026
Kühlhaus-Berlin
CALL FOR COMPOSERS: The Berlin Academy of American Music (BAAM) invites composers to take part in an immersive 7-day workshop in the heart of Berlin, bringing together a diverse international group of artists for focused exchange, collaboration, and discovery. Featuring an esteemed faculty of distinguished composers and music professionals from both sides of the Atlantic — including David T. Little, Josefine Opsahl, Alvin Singleton, Matthew Quayle, and Garrett Keast — the program includes daily seminars, four lessons per participant, guest presentations by major composers, chamber music concerts, and a public final-day performance of each composer’s work by the BAAM Septet. Held at Berlin’s historic Kühlhaus, the workshop offers a wide range of perspectives on what a successful and sustainable composition career can look like today.
Workshop Faculty
David T. Little
Alvin Singleton
Matthew Quayle
An Immersive Composer Experience
TAILORED LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Each day of the workshop contains a full array of experiences. Spend the morning in composition seminars; afternoons taking lessons with our composition faculty and attending presentations and discussions with guest composers and music professionals; and evenings at BAAM events or performances in the city.
In seminars and presentations, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in deep dives on topics crucial to today’s composers, including:
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Contemporary compositional techniques and practices
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Entrepreneurship, career building and networking
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Music publishing and the business of the music industry
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Intermedial art / an interdisciplinary approach
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Working as a composer-performer
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The role of art in contemporary society
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Finding your own voice and carreer path
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Exposure to wide range of composers, styles, genres and ideas
These sessions will provide you with creative tools and practical insights to elevate your craft and navigate the modern music landscape.
INTERNATIONAL FACULTY
Gain exclusive insights and expert guidance from some of the foremost professionals in contemporary music.
FACULTY
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David T. Little: Composition Chair - Mannes School of Music (NY), Recipient of 2024 GRAMMY nomination (Black Lodge) and 2025 Music Critics Association Best New Opera Award, commissions from Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Theater, Kennedy Center, Kronos Quartet, and London Sinfonietta
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Josefine Opsahl: National Academy of Music Department of Composition (DK), “remarkable composer and artist” (The Strad), Recipient of 2024 Best Opera Reumert nomination (HJEM Opera), premieres at the Elbphilharmonie, Lincoln Center, DR Koncerthuset’s Concert Hall (DK), Composer-in-residence at Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival (FI), commissions from Copenhagen Phil, The Royal Theatre, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra (DK)
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Alvin Singleton: Composer-in-Residence with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Guggenheim Fellowship, elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Visiting Professor of Composition at Yale School of Music
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Matthew Quayle, Workshop Director: Composition Faculty at Middlebury College Department of Music; Atlantic Music Festival, Composition Program Coordinator; NYU Abu Dhabi Faculty 2012-23; Naxos, Centaur, and Albany Records
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Garrett Keast, Artistic Director: International conductor, founder and chief conductor of the Berlin Academy of American Music (BAAM); ONYX Classics
LIVE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR WORK
Bring a completed work to be professionally performed and recorded by an ensemble of BAAM musicians (up to 7 players, maximum performance length: 8 minutes). This is a unique opportunity to hear your composition come to life in a professional setting. Instrumentation available: flute, clarinet, piano, two violins, viola, cello.
SUPPORTIVE, COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT
Build lasting professional relationships that could shape and support your career for years to come. Surrounded by like-minded composers who are committed to advancing their craft, you’ll have the opportunity to present your work during the Composition Forum and receive peer feedback.
LESSONS
Throughout the week, you’ll benefit from four lessons - one with each of our main composition faculty. In these 1-hour lessons, you will be paired with a fellow composer.
EVENINGS IN BERLIN
Experience Berlin’s vibrant music scene, from student performances to faculty concerts and more. Immerse yourself in the city’s artistic energy and discover new inspirations for your work. Participants will have the chance to attend a performance at one of Berlin's renowned musical landmarks, such as the Konzerthaus Berlin or the Staatsoper unter den Linden.
LIMITED SPACE
To ensure a focused and intimate experience, only 20 spots are available for composers aged 18+ who have completed at least one year of undergraduate studies. This workshop is for those who are eager to challenge themselves, grow, and take their talent to the next level.
TUITION
Full participant - 1750€ (with performance/recording)
Auditor - 750€ (seminar/presentation attendances only - no performance/recording)
Room, board, travel, and travel insurance are not included and must be self-arranged by participants.
WORKSHOP LOCATION + ACCOMODATION
The workshop will be held at the historic and centrally located Kühlhaus-Berlin (Luckenwalder Str. 3, 10963 Berlin). Information on affordable accommodations near Kühlhaus-Berlin will be provided after acceptance.
Application
To apply, please complete the application form via the button below and submit your application fee via PayPal (link included at the end of the application form).
Application Deadlines and Fees
- Early Bird Application fee (apply by March 10): 20 EUR
- Regular Application fee (apply by March 22): 40 EUR
Application Requirements (full participants)
The following materials are required for the online application:
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2-3 works (scores and links to recordings/MIDI realizations). These can include the work you would like to have performed during the workshop, but this is not necessary (you will have a chance to submit that work later, after acceptance).
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Information about your current or previous studies and teachers.
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Motivation Statement (1-2 paragraphs): Please describe why you are applying and what you hope to gain from the workshop
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CV, resume, list of works, and/or composer bio (optional)
Notification of Acceptance
Participants will be notified of their acceptance status by mid-April.
Score Submission Deadline
If you are accepted and wish to have a work performed during the workshop, please submit this to us by June 1.
If you have any questions about the workshop or need help with the application form, please contact us at quayle.btcworkshop@gmail.com.
Guest Presenters
William Anderson
Composer,
Guitar
Michaela Catranis
Composer,
Intermedial Art
Jonathan Dawe
Composer,
Juilliard School Faculty
Christoph Enzel
Composer,
Saxophone
Craig Urquhart
Composer, Piano,
Recording Artist
Kelly Watson Woelffer
Composer, Flute,
Hear Now Berlin
This workshop is supported by the Halle Foundation, the Roger Shapiro Fund for New Music, and Friends of BAAM.
