Jean Coulthard Readings and Mentorship Program
About the Program:
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Otto Tausk are pleased to present the newly envisioned Jean Coulthard Readings and Mentorship Program.
The Jean Coulthard Readings were created by former composer-in-residence Rodney Sharman in 1997 to provide a learning opportunity for Vancouver’s early-career composers, and for the VSO to discover new musical voices.
Named in honour of one of BC’s most beloved composers, the Jean Coulthard Readings and Mentorship Program give emerging composers an invaluable opportunity to develop their orchestral writing. Under the guidance of the VSO and the Mentor Composer, participants will have their work read by a professional orchestra. Approximately six emerging composers will be selected to participate in the program.
The newly expanded iteration of the program builds on this legacy by incorporating mentorship from the VSO, the VSO Mentor Composer, and visiting guest composers over a two‑year period.
Program Timeline
Year One: 2026/27
Six emerging composers will participate in a series of sessions with visiting guest composers, VSO musicians, and the RBC Resident Conductor. The year culminates in a VSO reading session at the end of the season. Following the reading, VSO musicians and the Artistic Team will provide feedback and select one composer as the Jean Coulthard Program Winner. Advancement to Year Two is not guaranteed and will be determined at the discretion of the VSO Artistic Team, including the Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning, the VSO Education Director, and Music Director Otto Tausk.
Program Overview:
- Three sessions with guest composers, including one led by a season‑long visiting composer (e.g., a composer‑in‑residence such as Tan Dun).
- Two private lessons with Mentor Composer
- One development session on parts preparation (faculty TBD).
- Opportunity to directly meet with a VSO musician
- One session with the RBC Resident Conductor (Trevor Wilson).
- Full access to all Symphonic Encounter Open Rehearsals for the season.
- Post‑reading meeting with Mentor Composer
- Final Reading session and professional recording of each participating composer’s work by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Tuesday April 20th 2027 at the Annex Theatre.
Expanded Learning Opportunity
One masterclass with an international composer working in a non‑traditional or non‑Eurocentric compositional field (e.g., film scoring, electronic music, cross‑cultural traditions, AI‑assisted composition, etc.). This session will be held either virtually or in person, depending on the guest composer’s location.
Year Two: 2027/28
Jean Coulthard Program Winner
After the VSO reading, a selection process will take place to determine whether one composer and piece will advance to Year Two. The selected piece will be performed at a VSO concert in the following season, with programming and scheduling determined by Music Director Otto Tausk and the Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning.
Selection Process
The VSO Education Team will conduct surveys after the reading, completed by the musicians who were present in the session. The feedback will then be reviewed along with the conductor’s notes and shared with the Senior Artistic Vice President and Otto Tausk for further evaluation. Together, this group will make a final decision on whether a composer and piece will move forward to Year Two. While the intention is to identify a candidate, there is no guarantee that a piece will be selected, as this depends on artistic and programmatic considerations at the time.
Program overview:
- One 2‑hour refinement session with a VSO Mentor Composer to review the piece and complete final refinements.
- One session with RBC Resident Conductor Trevor Wilson.
- Parts preparation mentorship with the VSO Head Librarian
- Feature performance of the revised piece at a main VSO event in the 2027–28 season (e.g., Day of Music, Deer Lake Park, Sunset Concerts, etc.).
- Cash award of $2,500 CAD, presented on stage at the premiere.
Applicants should be in the early stages of their professional careers (first five years), and/or have little professional experience in orchestral composition. The selection committee will be looking for creative imagination, stylistic originality, and a personal voice.
The VSO values diverse perspectives, experiences and cultures and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment. We encourage applications from members of all groups experiencing barriers to equity and we especially encourage racialized, queer, non-binary, and female composers to apply.
Successful applicants must prepare their own performance parts according to specific library guidelines presented in the part preparation seminar. A complete set of performance materials consists of two scores, multiple copies of strings (8 violin I, 7 violin II, 6 viola, 5 cello, 4 double bass) and single copies of all other parts.
Composers are required to attend all seminars, masterclasses, and workshops in person. Full participation is mandatory, and no sessions are optional. Limited Zoom access may be granted only to participants residing outside the Lower Mainland of BC, and solely for sessions where remote attendance is explicitly approved. In‑person attendance remains the expectation for the entire program.
Scheduling will be determined according to the mentor’s availability. Composers are required to commit to attending:
3 sessions with Mentor Composer
3 seminars with visiting VSO Guest Composers (Dates TBA)
1 seminar with members of the orchestra
The parts-preparation seminar
The entire reading session, pre-reading meetings, and post-reading masterclass
The Jean Coulthard Readings and Mentorship Program provides the opportunity to:
Learn about composition from multiple perspectives – including from professional composers, performers, and conductors;
Hear your work be performed by world-class musicians;
Experience how symphony orchestras operate and how to write for them in a way that is practical and engaging for the musicians;
Learn about the composition process of professional composers currently writing for the VSO
Receive high-quality archival recordings of your piece from the readings, which can be used in future applications; and gain career-related, entrepreneurial insights.
Previous participants have gone on to succeed professionally and receive commissions from major symphony orchestras
There is no tuition fee to participate in the program. All selected composers may take part at no cost.
1. Please fill out the application form below (JCR Application 2026/27)
2. For the consideration of the jury, applicants are invited to submit scores and recordings of two works, one of which must be for an orchestral or large ensemble.
Application deadline is Friday September 4th, 2026.
The fee to apply is $25. For anyone facing financial or other barriers, there is a Pay-What-You-Can system with the option to enter any amount up to $25. The VSO is committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians and composers, and we aim to make our programs accessible to all.
Hard copies of the score must be submitted by mail, courier, or in person. Digital copies of your score are submitted through the online form. Your application should include:
Two Full scores (one hard copy of each piece). Applications are to be made anonymously. Please do NOT include your name, or any indication of your identity on the score. The title of the work should be printed clearly on the submitted score. Digital copies of your scores – without any indication of identity on the digital copy. Links to recordings of your two scores. At least one of these needs to be a recording of an actual performance. MIDI recordings for larger ensembles are acceptable but discouraged.
Hard‑copy submissions should be addressed to:
VSO Education
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Mail: 500 – 833 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 0G4
Courier/drop off: 500 – 843 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 3L4
If you have questions, please e-mail us at education@vancouversymphony.ca
JCR Application 2026/27
Jean Coulthard Reading 2026/27 Mentor Composer Application
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) is seeking an experienced Mentor Composer to join the 2026 Jean Coulthard Readings (JCR) program. This role is central to the artistic and educational mission of the JCR, providing emerging composers with expert guidance, professional insight, and constructive feedback throughout the program.
The Mentor Composer will work closely with participating composers, VSO musicians, and VSO Education team, contributing to seminars, masterclasses, workshops, and reading session. This position requires a high level of professionalism, strong communication skills, and a demonstrated commitment to supporting the development of early‑career composers. This is a paid professional engagement with compensation commensurate with the scope of the role.
Full details about the role, qualifications, and how to apply are available in our position posting. Applications are due July 15th, 2026. We thank all those interested. We will only contact successful applicants for next steps.
