Initially founded as a school project, the Louisville Festival for Youth Composers is dedicated to premiering the musical works of students through grade 12. Jonathan Melton (12, YPAS) is the co-founder and executive director. The festival is entirely youth led, organized and produced. All the composers are high schoolers or younger, and even the resident conductor is a senior at Collegiate.
Melton explains that despite a recent spike in interest in composing among young musicians, the logistical barriers of getting to perform these original works can be difficult to overcome.
“Those musicians don’t have a venue to be able to perform those compositions or hear them performed live,” Melton said. “Having a full orchestra or a concertant band or string orchestra is just so hard to arrange.”
But this is where the Louisville Festival for Youth Composers comes in. The organization brings together volunteer musicians of all ages to prepare and perform the compositions. From chamber groups to string orchestras to concert bands, the organization provides an opportunity for composers to premier works requiring a variety of instrumentation. In addition to the benefits for the student composers, the festival also benefits their music loving peers, providing opportunities for musicians of any instrument to perform never heard before works.
The model has proven successful. Last year, Melton reports, they had two composers, but this year the number has risen to eight. The organization began their search for young composers in February, and several YPAS students were among those who answered the call.
In addition to being the Director of String Ensembles for the festival, Annalise Martin (9, YPAS) is premiering her symphony orchestra piece at the concert on May 8.
“As a composer and player, I am excited for the opportunity to showcase my own piece,” Martin said. “My interest in composing began after my first year of string orchestra in my 6th grade year. I wanted to create something that I would be proud of.”
There has also been an increase in the number of musicians the organization has found to volunteer their time and talents to perform the works. While in the first year of the festival, there were around 30 performers, that number has now doubled. Whereas last year the festival was held at the Louisville Collegiate School for their performance, this year they were able to secure Comstock Hall at the University of Louisville. The new venue can hold approximately 500 people. Despite massive growth in the organization in just the first two years, Melton says there is still even more room to grow.
“Our big big goals for the next five to ten years are to be able to register as a 501(c)(3), apply for the KY Arts Grant and that would give us money to be able to possibly rent another space like the Brown Theatre,” he said.
As a youth composer himself, Melton understands the importance of the opportunities the festival provides. He is premiering a work of his own at the performance on May 8 called “A Journey to Rome.” He says the piece follows the journey of a lowly merchant setting his eyes upon the great city for the first time.
“I wrote this piece also to say, we have technology at our fingertips, we can look up places, we can play video games, but nothing compares to being able to actually go outside, enjoy nature and enjoy beautiful architecture,” he said.
Martin’s piece is called “Dragon’s Fire,” and is supposed to invoke images of a group of people battling a dragon.
“I believe that the listener should be free to have their own interpretation of my music and connect to it in their own special way,” she said.
Martin, Melton and all of the young composers involved in the project believe in music’s power to transport audiences.
“We also want to stress that music is more than just noise. It’s a voice,” Melton said. “Obviously this year, there’s been absolutely no shortage of terrible things that have happened in the city of Louisville from flooding to tornadoes.” He believes that the free festival can offer the city a source of hope and unity.
“We’ve been through a lot, but we’re in this together, and we’re gonna keep fighting, we’re going to keep going,” he said.
The Louisville Festival for Youth Composers will perform at the University of Louisville Comstock Hall at 7 pm on Thursday, May 8. The event is free and open to all community members. For more information, visit the Louisville Youth Composers instagram.
