The IMFA composition program provides young composers with mentorship from seasoned teachers who are also active composers, access to talented singers and instrumentalists who are eager to collaborate on composition projects, and time in which to compose.

We believe that collaboration and mentorship are both essential elements in an inspiring creative environment.

Collaboration: Composition students at IMFA are paired with performers within the first few days of the festival. These composer/performer teams work together to create a new musical work over the course of the month in Duino, with the goal of a premiere performance during the final days of the festival. Workshops for both composers and performers are offered each week that provide opportunities to experiment and exchange ideas.

Mentorship: Since enrollment in the composition program is limited, participants receive significant mentorship through individual and group composition lessons each week. Composers also benefit from the availability of the performance faculty, who are eager to help composers refine their musical ideas.

In addition to performances of works composed during the festival, composers will also be invited to submit previously-completed works for performance consideration.