Composing is all about creating. Therefore, the development of the students' creative powers is at the core of the composition study programme. The students are coached by composers with a large amount of experience in this field. In their lessons, the  teachers take the creative gifts and musical identity of their students as a starting point and focus on the development of their specific talents. The students gain insight in their creative processes and the nature and possibilities of their musical material. 

The CvA Composition Department stands for

• artistic openness
• diversity in genres and aesthetics
• new intercultural music
• music and technology
• collaborations with other (art) disciplines

There are composition projects with ensembles such as Atlas Academy, De Nederlandse Opera, Looptail and Amsterdam Collage Ensemble.

Composition students participate in projects in the field of music thearte, film music and community art, crossover projects with the Jazz and Pop Music Departments, and projects with the Percussion Department. In the Master Degree Programme students can choose the Profile Contemporary Music.

Pieces by composition students may be performed at special lunchtime concerts - The New Music Arena - throughout the year.  At the end of the year the Department organises the Composers' Festival Amsterdam.

In the weekly Composer’s Forum, students will have the opportunity to discuss their works and guest composers will lecture on their works. Every year the department invites special guest teachers to give private and group lessons, seminars and workshops.

Head of Composition and Music Theory
Michiel Schuijer

Teachers
Jorrit Tamminga section representative & electronic composition 
Meriç Artaç principal subject
Richard Ayres principal subject
Willem Jeths principal subject
Maya Verlaak principal subject
Jacob Slagter ensemble conducting
Rafael Reina Advanced Rhythm
Jos Zwaanenburg live-electronics, Advanced Rhythm
Davo van Peursen entrepreneurship
Marcel Wierckx live electronics
Anna Korsun regular guest teacher