Cursus Program on Composition and Computer Music
The IRCAM Cursus is a unique computer music training program for young composers. Throughout the year, from October to September of the following year, students will acquire a solid technical autonomy and fluency in several computer programs, oriented towards artistic creation.
Composers will follow courses on IRCAM’s softwares for music composition (Max, OpenMusic, Modalys, TS2, Spat, etc.) in a wide-ranging and productive environment based on exchanges and encounters with researchers, programmers, sound engineers, computer-music designers, and composers working in our labs and studios as well as guest artists, in dialogue with the activities that are at the heart of our institute.
Led by the composer associated with the Cursus, Pierre Jodlowski, the training also opens the way to an interdisciplinary perspective to composition and features a hands-on approach in studio and collective workshops around image, movement, text and improvisation. Students are encouraged to develop a personal research around these practices, in order to extend their dialogue with other artistic fields. The Cursus is meant to include all practices and approaches that foresee the use of technological medium.
In order to validate the skills acquired throughout the program, during the workshops taking place at the end of each unit, students present their mini projects. These are also meant as preparatory steps towards the production of their final project, which will be presented during the IRCAM season program in September 2024.
Through a partnership with the Conservatoire supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris (CNSMDP), the Haute École de musique de Genève (HEM), the Académie supérieure de musique de Strasbourg-HEAR, and the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Lyon (CNSMDL), students enrolled in a Master’s degree in composition in one of these establishments can follow the first year of their degree in IRCAM’s Cursus program.
IRCAM is a partner of the Cité internationale des arts for the residencies of the composers of the Cursus 2023-2024.
La Maison de l'Ile-de-France, situated in the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris (CiuP), provides 10 apartments for composers in the Cursus 2024-2025 throughout their training at IRCAM.
IRCAM extends its warmest thanks to the Direction de l'Innovation, de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement supérieur de la Région Île-de-France, the Maison de l'Ile-de-France and the Cité internationale universitaire de Paris for their support of the Cursus.
The Cursus in Brief
- 380 people trained since 1990
- with 52 nationalities represented
- 54 public performances of Cursus pieces as part of IRCAM's concert season
- Since 2016, 40 commissions awarded to composers within 4 years of completing their training
The 30th anniversary of the Cursus and emerging artists
Cursus Educational Team
Simone Conforti, Jean Lochard, Grégoire Lorieux, Sébastien Naves, Johannes Regnier, Claudia Jane Scroccaro
computer-music designers lecturers
Pierre Jodlowski composer associated with the Cursus
Philippe Langlois education department director
Murielle Ducas educational coordination manager
Contact 01 44 78 48 17 | cursus (at) ircam.fr
The 2024.25 Class
Selected Composers for Cursus 2024.25
Konstantinos Baras
Konstantinos Baras (Greece, b.1993) is a Greek composer with a passion for complex and saturated sound. He embarked on his musical journey following a diagnosis of HanDL syndrome at the age of 18. Baras is recognized for creating works that convey intens…
Severin Dornier
Severin Dornier (Germany, b. 1993)
Working in the fields of music theatre, sound installation, media art, and all undefined grey areas in between, Severin's artistic practice is based on the very physical and haptic investigation of all natural and tech…
Emre Eröz
Emre Eröz (Turkey, b.1995) is a composer whose works explore the potential of complex sounds, drawing inspiration from various musical genres. He enjoys creating sonic narrations that explore the subtle spaces between the artificial and or…
Yoko Konishi
Yoko Konishi (Japan, b.1986) trained as a mixed music composer, multimedia artist, performer, and singer, with a particular curiosity for exploring noise and human perception through spatial expression.
As both a composer and performer, Yoko showcased h…
Antonio La Spina
Antonio La Spina (Italy, b. 1991) is a composer and pianist. He studied in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal and was chosen as a composer for the Internationale Ensemble Modern Akademie (IEMA) in 2020-2021. He has won prizes in the Acht Br&uu…
Sergi Puig
Sergi Puig (Spain, b. 1989) studied composition at the Conservatori Superior del Liceu in Barcelona with Ramon Humet and Benet Casablancas, graduating with distinction. He completed his training at the Kunstuniversität Graz with a master's degr…
Yana Shliabanska
Yana Shliabanska (Ukraine, b.1994) is a composer and sound artist. She is the author of contemporary classical music (chamber and orchestral), music for theatre, dance, and performances, electroacoustic music, and sound installations. She also performs a…
Jiwon Seo
Jiwon Seo (South Korea, b. 1993) a music composer and interdisciplinary artist, receives support from esteemed institutions such as the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation and the Nicati-De Luze Foundation. Hir creations emerge as interdisciplinary artwor…
Luis Torres
Luis Torres (Mexico, b. 1993) is a composer of acoustic, acousmatic, and electroacoustic music. He obtained his first Master's Degree in composition at the Royal College of Music in London under the direction of Dai Fujikura and Kenneth Hesketh. He then …
Itziar Viloria
Itziar Viloria (Basque Country, b. 1997) is a composer, electronics performer, technical producer, and visual artist based between Barcelona and Bilbao. Her interest in various artistic disciplines and mixed music has led her to collaborate with art…
Episodes about IRCAM's Cursus
Apply to the Cursus Program
The call for applications for Cursus 2024.25 is closed
Applicants
Applicants must be under 37 years old.
There are no applications fees
General Terms and Conditions
Calendar
Following a reorganization of the Cursus, the next call for applications will take place in June 2025 for the 2026-2027 academic year (October 2026-September 2027).
There will therefore be no Cursus training in 2025-2026.
Further details will be announced shortly.
Application File
Your dossier must include:
- A copy of valid ID or passport
- A detailed curriculum vitae
- The list of professional experiences and awards
- A cover letter
- One or several letters of recommendation
- Three recent works, at least one with electronics (score, audio recording, video, etc.)
- The URL to download a patch for one of your compositions (Max or any other real-time software) from the platform of your choice. Remember to give a permanent URL that does not require a password.
For non-Francophone applicants: a copy of your TEF exam (level B2) or equivalent diploma or any other document proving an equivalent level of oral comprehension.
Conditions for Applicants and Selected Candidates
10 places are available
Registration fees: 2,000€ (includes the Premium Individuel membership to the IRCAM Forum for 2 years)
Applicants selected for the Cursus program must confirm their participation in writing and commit to take on any other professional engagements during the program. Classes are held at IRCAM from Monday through Friday, from 10am to 1pm and from 2:30 to 5:30pm. There are two weeks of vacation in December for the holidays.
Scholarships
IRCAM does not give out any scholarships or pay for any travel, but can assist you when looking for financial aid.
The Cursus program is considered to be continued professional training. Depending on the trainee's status, assistance schemes may be activated. Contact : cursus (@) ircam.fr
More information : Financing professional training
The Cursus is not eligible for the Compte personnel de formation (CPF).
Accessibility
Accessibility policy and access conditions for people with reduced mobility.
For more information about accessibility, please contact us at cursus ( at ) ircam.fr.
Complaints
For any complaints, please contact IRCAM through our online complaint form.