A DC-BASED COMPANY, and at our core:
DEVELOPING AND PRODUCING ORIGINAL WORKS OF MUSIC-THEATRE,
FOSTERING THE GROWTH OF ARTISTS,
AND ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP
Changing the Conversation Through the Arts
Composer-Librettist Studio
We conducted our fourth annual Washington DC Composer-Librettist Studio for in June 2026. The sessions were conducted from June 13 - 28, 2026 and hosted by the Music Department of the University of the District of Columbia.
This nationally-renowned training program has been preparing professional artists to deepen their understanding of collaborative principles across the spectrum of music-theatre since 1986.The Composer-Librettist Studio is a unique, ongoing professional development program that provides an opportunity for five composers, five librettists and five singer-actors to focus on the principles and process of collaboration through a series of brief exploratory assignments in the hybrid form of music-theatre. All composers work with all writers and performers in rotating assignments to push the artists out of their comfort zones and support the growth of everyone to develop new capacities. On the final day, an informal sharing of all the short pieces allows these talented artists and courageous risk-takers to celebrate new voices and seeds of work. At the end of the CL Studio we presented all 25 Assignments in the Performing Arts Center.
Our particpants in our 2026 Composer-Librettist Studio after our Recital of all 25 works created during the CL Studio.
Stay tuned for updates on our 2027 Composer-Librettist Studio next June 2027.
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Our 2025 Composer-Librettist Studio was held in July at the Music Department of the University of the District of Columbia. Per the Music Program Coordinator "The UDC Music program is delighted to once again host the Composer Librettist Studio. It’s a wonderful opportunity for our program and our regional community."
Participants at our previous CL Studios felt the workshop was unique and life changing, including these comments:
“If I had been part of the original CLS in 1994, I would have been a better writer and collaborator. It has changed my life.”
Another offered “I never realized I’d learn these things and absorb so many great concepts.”
Performers shared “I have gone from being simply a singer to a performer and storyteller. You don’t learn this in other conventional programs and conservatories… It was a magical experience.”
“This studio wonderfully destroyed my preconceptions of all art, entertainment, and storytelling,” summarized one participant, “The tools [I learned here]. were craft-changing for me.”
Some of the writers who are alums of the Composer-Librettist Studio program include Eric Overmeyer, David Ives, Kira Obolensky, Kelley Rourke, José Cruz Gonzáles, Nilo Cruz, and Caridad Svich.
Composers have included Paul Dresher, Ricky Ian Gordon, Mary Ellen Childs, and O-Lan Jones.
Class of 2025 Composer-Librettist Studio
All participants emerged with renewed confidence and commitment to the craft, as well as a committed network of sustaining supporters, energized and well-equipped to advance the field.
