Resident Composer and Teaching Artist (RCTA)

Wildflower Composers and Asian Arts Initiative seek a Resident Composer and Teaching Artist (hereinafter referred to as “RCTA”) for the spring 2023 season. During the residency period, selected RCTA will lead eight (8) workshops on composition for students involved in the AAI Youth Arts Workshop, and will also work alongside an AAI Resident Artist to compose a new piece or installation for premiere in the spring season.

RCTA will receive a $1,500 commission prize and a $1,500 teaching stipend, totaling $3,000 for the residency period.

Responsibilities as Resident Composer:
RCTA will compose a new composition or design an installation that somehow relates to AAI’s 2023 theme of “Bodies”. This new work can engage with the work of one of AAI’s resident artists for the spring (not yet released) but this is not required. WC/AAI are interested in a wide range of musical aesthetics and invite proposals from all composers within our eligibility (above).

Option for Composition: RCTA are invited to write a new piece that relates in some way to AAI’s 2023 theme of “Bodies”. The piece may include the RCTA themselves, a limited number of hired musicians (up to 3), and fixed and/or live electronics. The final piece should be no more than 20 minutes in duration, and will premiere in May/June 2023 with an approximate due date of April 1.

Option for Installation: RCTA may choose to create an installation rather than a piece, which will be displayed for at least a two-week period in one of the AAI spaces. Please see the rentals page on the AAI website for more details about various spaces and A/V capabilities in the AAI building.

During the residency period, RCTA will have significant access to creative and working space at AAI, in addition to ongoing support from WC/AAI staff and facilities.

Responsibilities as RCTA:
The selected RCTA will be expected to lead eight (8) workshops on composition for the Youth Arts Workshop students during the residency period, approximately once every other week. These workshops will take place at the AAI building, located at 1219 Vine Street in Philadelphia. Workshops should last approximately 1 hour. These workshops should be exploratory in nature and not require students to have any previous musical experience or the ability to read music. RCTA will have the opportunity to discuss their curriculum suggestions with Wildflower and AAI leadership and staff, who will also provide ongoing support and feedback.

Over the course of these eight sessions, RCTA should help students to prepare some kind of final composing project for presentation at the conclusion of the residency period. This final project does not have to relate to the AAI theme of “bodies” unless desired. Students may co-compose their projects and may serve as the performers of their own pieces, or a limited number of performers may be hired. WC/AAI are very open to proposals for student projects that match the interests and strengths of the RCTA and the students.

Questions? Please contact erin@wildflowercomposers.org

Requirements

Applicants must have prior experience working with middle and high school students (in any context, not necessarily musical). Applicants should live within driving distance of Philadelphia. Female, trans, or nonbinary artists that belong to the BIPOC community and whose lives are touched by the Asian diaspora, are encouraged to apply.

Accepted candidates will need to complete the following clearance requirements: PA Child Abuse, PA Criminal Record, FBI Fingerprint, and National Sex Offender Registry Clearance and Health Assessment. These clearances are not required for the application period.