Artistic Growth Incubator

Write Music That Captivates Audiences

Master the creative tools that harness the psychology of expectation—helping you compose with confidence, build your portfolio, and secure performances every month.

Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2025!

Choose Your Path . . .

Join as a Workshop member for community and skill-building, upgrade to Mentorship for personalized guidance, or go all-in with the Recording tier to build a professional portfolio.

What You’ll Experience

  • Weekly live workshops on melody, harmony, orchestration, and form

  • Score study sessions analyzing how master composers create impact

  • Monthly curriculum built around real recording opportunities

  • Private online community with accountability partners

  • 200+ hours of pre-recorded workshop content

  • Quarterly guest masterclasses with world-class guests, such as:

    • Melinda Wagner — Head of composition at Juilliard

    • Darrell Brown — Composer, conductor, commissioner of 70+ new works

    • David MacDonald — Parts prep expert. Co-host, Scoring Notes podcast

Recent & Upcoming Recording Opportunities

  • November 2025: Piano Trio with Grammy-winning violinist Domenic Salerni (NYC) — 1 slot remaining

  • January 2026: Brevitas—professional chamber choir (Los Angeles) — 1 slot remaining

  • March 2026: Oboe/English horn chamber music with students of Jennet Ingle

  • July 2026: Budapest Scoring Orchestra—full orchestral recording

Investment

Tuition starts at $375/month. Three membership tiers available based on your goals and commitment level.

3-month Trial

Not sure if this is right for you? Start with a 3-month commitment. If you're not seeing results, we'll refund any remaining tuition.

Complete program details and tier breakdown below ↓

Apply now — it’s free!

Apply Now

Conductor Peter Pejtsik leads the Budapest Art Orchestra in the July 2023 student composition recording session.

About the Program

Founded and led by Dr. Joseph Sowa, the Artistic Growth Incubator is a comprehensive online training program for emerging composers who want to grow their composing and career skills so that they can secure at least one new commission or performance every month—and do it with confidence.

You'll master the creative tools that harness the psychology of expectation—helping you write music that gives audiences goosebumps, gets stuck in their heads, and brings them back for more.

What’s Possible in the Artistic Growth Incubator

The Artistic Growth Incubator Yields Real Results

Students Get Performed and Commissioned:

  • Laurel Christensen — "All Night I Could Not Sleep" performed by New Jersey All-State Choir

  • Joseph Jones — *Fragments No. 2* performed by Decoda Ensemble at Carnegie Hall

  • Jessica Margolin — "Dona Nobis Pacem" commissioned and performed in San Francisco

Students Get Published:

  • Five Incubator composers published oboe chamber works with TrevCo Music, the leading publisher of double reed music

Students Get Accepted to Festivals and Grad Programs:

  • Greta Stiegler — Brevard Music Festival, Mostly Modern Festival, Sofia Symphonic Summit

  • Heather Savage — Accepted to Appalachian State University's master's program in composition

  • Beverly Beegle — Hidden Valley Emerging Composers Intensive

Watch more student case studies and hear their music:

See the Case Studies

Professional Recording Opportunities

Recording sessions aren't just about getting audio files—they're where you learn what actually works. You'll discover more about your music in a 20-minute reading session than in 20 hours of notation software playback.

What you gain from recordings:

  • Hear your compositional choices come to life with real players

  • Get immediate feedback on what lands and what needs revision

  • Build portfolio pieces that open doors to commissions and performances

  • Develop relationships with professional musicians who champion new work

Upcoming sessions available to Incubator members:

  • November 2025: Piano Trio with Grammy-winning violinist Domenic Salerni, cellist Rafi Bowden, and pianist Erika Dohi (NYC) — 1 slot remaining

  • January 2026: Brevitas—professional a cappella chamber choir (Los Angeles) — 1 slot remaining

  • March 2026: Double Reed Chamber Music Intensive with students of Jennet Ingle (Principal Oboist, South Bend Symphony). Selected pieces will be considered for publication by TrevCo Music (the leading publisher of double reed repertoire) and performance at the 2026 International Double Reed Society conference.

  • July 2026: Budapest Scoring Orchestra—full orchestral recording session

Access varies by membership tier. Workshop members receive priority booking at discounted rates. Recording tier members have sessions included in their tuition.

How Does the Program Work?

The Incubator expands on the traditional private composition studio model, combining personalized mentoring with structured group learning and professional recording opportunities.

All sessions happen live on Zoom and are recorded for replay. You'll also have access to 200+ hours of pre-recorded workshop content.

A Typical Month

Each month focuses on one essential compositional skill—melody, harmony, form, orchestration, sound, rhythm, or creative process:

  • Week 1: Workshop — Dr. Sowa introduces the month's concept with practical techniques you can use immediately.

  • Week 2: Score Study — Analyze how expert composers apply these principles in real repertoire (student-selected pieces).

  • Week 3: Group Composition Lesson — Bring your works-in-progress for feedback from Dr. Sowa and your peers in an interactive "office hours" format.

  • Week 4: Guest Masterclass & Private Lessons — Learn from renowned guest composers and schedule additional private lesson time to deepen your skills.

Throughout each week, co-working sessions, peer review sessions, and accountability partners keep you accountable and moving forward.

Mentorship and Recording tier members receive private lessons (schedulable during any week) and quarterly strategy sessions with Dr. Sowa to set creative and career-building goals.

The program requires 4–8 hours per week between workshops and your own composing.

The Result?

Reliable creative habits replace anxiety and guesswork—so you can compose consistently and get your work performed.

Program Tiers

Choose the level of engagement that matches your goals and learning style.

✨ Workshop Tier

For independent learners who want expert-led workshops and community accountability without 1-on-1 guidance

What's included:

  • Workshops on melody, harmony, orchestration, form, and creative process

  • Score study sessions analyzing how expert composers create impact

  • Co-working and peer score review sessions

  • Weekly accountability partners

  • Audit access to monthly group composition lessons and guest masterclasses

  • Full access to 200+ hours of pre-recorded workshop content

  • Private online community

  • 20% discount on recording sessions

Investment: $375/month ($4,500/year paid monthly)

12-month commitment: $3,750 (2 months free)

🪄 Mentorship Tier

For composers committed to mastering their craft through personalized guidance

What's included:

  • Everything in the Workshop tier, plus:

  • 1 private lesson per month with Dr. Sowa

  • Full participation in monthly group composition lessons (not audit)

  • Quarterly strategy calls to set creative and career goals

  • Priority access to recording sessions

Investment: $600/month ($7,200/year paid monthly)

12-month commitment: $6,000 (2 months free)

🎼 Recording Tier

For composers who want to record 4+ works and use those recordings to attract commissions and performances

What's included:

  • Everything in the Mentorship tier, plus:

  • Up to 2 private lessons per month (double the Mentorship tier)

  • Full participation in quarterly guest masterclasses

  • 4 included professional recording sessions:

    • Full orchestra (Budapest Scoring Orchestra)

    • Professional a cappella chamber choir (Brevitas)

    • Two chamber music sessions (including publication consideration through TrevCo Music)

Investment: $1,200/month ($14,400/year paid monthly)

12-month commitment: $12,000 (2 months free)

Enrollment Structure & Program Guarantee

The program is designed as a full-year enrollment, with a minimum commitment of 3 months. If, after 3 months, you aren’t seeing the results you’re seeking, you may cancel the rest of your enrollment and will be refunded any excess tuition.

Students who pay in full for 12 months receive a discount equivalent to 2 months free.

What Our Alumni Are Saying

  • “I learned a ton from coaching with Dr. Sowa that I did not pick up in college.“

    Karalyn Schubring, BM in composition from Michigan, pianist and improviser

  • “The course was customized for each individual, so we were able to take the tasks and tools we were learning and apply them to our music. . . . I feel like I have more knowledge, critiquing skills, and tools that will help bring my music to the next level.”

    Heather Enke, Composer, pianist

  • "The value of the Wizarding School is flabbergasting — so much material. Even after the course ends, it will take a long time to go through it all."

    Jessica Margolin, composer

  • "If you feel like there is anything at all that is keeping you from writing the music you want to write, inquire about the Wizarding School for Composers. This program will be of great benefit to you."

    Ken Applegate, composer

  • Joining the Wizarding School will add you to a growing community that will fully support your musical journey, no matter where you are on that path!"

    Stephanie Plautz, composer, euphonium

  • “Before I took the Wizarding School course, my compositional process relied only on a combination of intuition and jazz theory. I now feel like I have an approach that removes the anxiety from the process and allows me to be my most creative self.”

    David Ashton, DMA in clarinet performance from Rutgers, NYC-based multi-woodwind performer, improviser, and composer

  • “I always sensed that I had the ability to be a composer and to make beautiful music, but felt that I didn't have the tools to make that happen. Because of the Wizarding School, those dreams of composing became possibilities.”

    Seth Castleton, DMA in cello performance from the University of Maryland

  • “Joseph has a knack for giving feedback that lets me keep ownership of the music. It always feels like his goal is to help me execute my vision as effectively as possible rather than impose his own.”

    Peter Gates, choral singer and composer

Ready to Join?

If you're ready to transform your compositional practice and build a career as a performing composer, we'd love to speak with you.

The application is free and takes less than 5 minutes. Once submitted, you'll schedule a brief conversation with Dr. Sowa to discuss your goals and find the right tier for your journey.

Questions? Email us at info@composersschool.com

Apply Now