The Pasadena Chorale has opened applications for its student-mentor composition program, “Listening to the Future.”

Pasadena area high school students from ninth through 12th grade with a teaching recommendation are welcome to apply. The program runs from Jan. through June 2023. The five-month-long program culminates with the Pasadena Chorale performing the student composers’ piece at its Listening to the Future concert on June 17.

The six students chosen to participate will be selected based on their music experience, level of readiness, and teacher recommendation. Students will regularly meet and work with composer Amy Gordon. Student composers will be asked to produce one piece of original music for the Chorale and one arrangement.

Pasadena Chorale Founding Artistic & Executive Director Jeffrey Bernstein expressed his excitement for the program by saying, “Listening to the Future is an arts education program that is very special to me. Created and supported by Pasadena Chorale, Listening to the Future began in 2016 to give young composers a chance to hear their music performed in concert. There wasn’t a program like it in Pasadena. This year we’re thrilled that L.A.-based Amy Gordon will return as our composer mentor. Amy was the composer mentor in 2019-20. She’s a terrific composer and a superb educator.”

In its six years since the program has had alumni go on to study at Stanford, Columbia, Yale, Chapman University, University of Michigan, and more.

Students will receive professional video and audio recordings of their work that can include in college applications. Applications must be submitted by Dec. 31, 2022