SMU Meadows Composition

06/18/2026

2026-2027 SMU-ISO Student Composer in Residence

This year’s ISO-SMU Student Composer in Residence is Brandon Morrison, second-year M.M. student in Composition. He will be composing a new work to be premiered by the Irving Symphony on their concert on Saturday, November 14th, 2026 at 7:30 PM in the Irving Arts Center, 3333N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving TX. This program is open to the public. Ticket information can be found at: https://irvingsymphony.org/

The mission of the ISO-SMU Student Composer in Residence is to offer to one student enrolled in composition studies at SMU the opportunity to become a composer in residence with a professional, local orchestra. Begun in 2012 by Maestro Hector Guzman (SMU MM Conducting, 1983) and program Director, Robert Frank (Associate Prof., SMU), the ISO-SMU Residency exists to offer to SMU Composition students the opportunity to gain professional experience via composing for, and working within, the ISO along with Maestro Guzman, in ways best fitting their career goals and aspirations. It gives students valuable professional experience and stature via the opportunity to compose a new work (or existing work, as determined by the ISO) that will be premiered on the regular concert season by the Irving Symphony. The Composer in Residence will have the opportunity to explore roles with the symphony including, but not limited to: educational outreach, preconcert presentations, performance, direction, or any other usual operation of the symphony that fits and furthers the student's abilities and career goals. The selected composer also receives a $1500 award from the Meadows Division of Music.


Contact info for more information:
Rob Frank [email protected]
Brandon Morrison: [email protected]

Past Winners:

2025
Paul Johnson
2024 Max Whittaker
2023 Theo Morris
2022 Ayden Machajewski
2021 Spencer Roberts, Luis Solis
2020 Michael Boss (Premiere delayed until 2021 due to COVID)
2019 Aaron Stanley
2018 Christian Jesse
2017 Olga Amelkina-Vera
2016 Michael Van der Sloot
2015 Jesus Martinez
2014 (no winner)
2013 Alvin Trottman
2012 Vince Gover

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11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! On behalf of SMU composers, thank you for making our experience truly spectacular! We are grateful for these opportunities!

10/12/2025

Congratulations Paul Johnson on a standing-ovation premiere with the Irving Symphony Orchestra !!

10/11/2025

An exciting rehearsal by the Irving Symphony Orchestra of SMU-ISO Composer in Residence Paul Johnson's "Overture to the Pleasing and Perfect"! Come to the premiere of this exciting new piece tomorrow evening!

10/09/2025

Another great piece and young composer at SMU! Come hear it if you're in town, along with a really balanced and great program by Hector Guzman and the wonderful Irving Symphony Orchestra !!! Saturday Oct. 11th 7:30 pm!

Paul Johnson, a second-year master’s student double majoring in Music Composition and Music Theory Pedagogy has been selected as this year’s SMU–Irving Symphony Orchestra Composer-in-Residence!

This residency, founded in 2012 by Meadows alum Hector Guzman (M.M. ’83) and Music Composition program director and associate professor Rob Frank, aims to offer SMU Meadows composition students the opportunity to gain professional experience via composing for, and working with, the ISO along with Maestro Guzman.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/XWdCdze

10/08/2025

Come hear the World Premiere of our 13th SMU-ISO Student Composer in Residence, Paul Johnson, this Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at 7:30PM! Congratulations!

Division of Music Student Paul Johnson Named New SMU-ISO Composer-in-Residence A second-year master’s student double majoring in Music Composition and Music Theory Pedagogy has been selected as this year’s SMU–Irving Symphony Orchestra Composer-in-Residence. Figure: Music composition and music...

06/19/2025

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards! 🎉🎷 Read the press release now: https://www.ascap.com/press/2025/06/06-18-morton-gould-awards

06/17/2025

Come support SMU Music Alum Bethany Wildes if you are able.

🎻 Join Us for a Night of Music and Support 🎶

One of our own—Bethany Wildes, a beloved member of our orchestra and an incredible member of our community—is currently fighting a courageous battle with cancer. To show our love and support, we’re hosting a Benefit Concert in her honor.

The concert will be on July 1 at Christ United Methodist Church at 7:30 PM. Please donate and learn more about Bethany’s story at https://bit.ly/BethanyWildesDonate

Thank you to the Plano Symphony Orchestra, musicians, Maestro Guzmán, CUMC, and Rosemary and Dr. Doohi Lee for making this event possible.