The future of music is already taking shape right here in Tucson!
Through the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composers Project (YCP), students are creating original works and hearing them performed live by professional musicians, an experience few composers get at any age. Students ages 8–18 learn directly from TSO musicians and Music Director José Luis Gómez as they explore composition, develop their own musical voice, and bring their ideas to life.
This year’s students are already making their mark. Meet Lisa and Daniel!
Liesl, age 9
First year in YCP
“I am writing a string quartet. I play piano and cello; I used to play the violin. I listened off a song I heard in my dad’s car. I don’t know what I want to do when I grow up, maybe a cellist. The name of my piece is the Dance of the Dragon. Its written in German.”
Daniel, age 11 (6th grade)
First year in YCP
“This is my first year joining the YCP. I’m a big fan of classical music, it’s basically all I listen to. I’m really split, I can’t decide on a favorite composer, but I like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. If I had to decide on one favorite, it would have to be Bach, but I really like Beethoven. He’s really good. I play violin, and a bit of the piano, but I do more violin nowadays.
My piece is a quartet—two violins, a viola, and a cello. I don’t have a name for my piece yet, I just call it the String Quartet. I have come up with decently good names, but I feel like it’s more trouble than it’s worth nowadays.
I had never got to actually hear professionals play my piece. It’s really crazy cool to hear them play it. I’m not really nervous, generally I pride myself in being pretty confident, but I am kinda nervous that I forgot to put something in.”