Small, Selective Programs The M.A. and B.M. programs in composition and the B.A. program in electronic music are small and highly selective, designed to prepare the student for professional success in a highly competitive feld. Private Study with Distinguished Faculty Students receive private instruction from a composition faculty distinguished by active professional careers. Internationally Known Guest Lecturers Lectures and master classes by nationally and internationally known composers, theorists, and performers provide constant exposure to a variety of styles and points of view. Performance Opportunities Student compositions are regularly performed on recitals by both student and professional ensembles. Composer-in-Residence Award Every year a student is commissioned to compose a new work for a select campus instrumental ensemble. Weekly readings of the developing work lead to its premiere as a feature on Honors Day. Scholarships and Graduate Assistantships Scholarships are available through the Music Department's Paul and Edith Pone forgivable loan program. Graduate assistantships are also available to qualifed students. Peterson Prize in Music Composition This national competition, offering orchestral performances and financial prizes for young composers, is sponsored by SFSU. Professional Development Strong emphasis is placed on helping the student develop a portfolio of signifcant original compositions, supported by high-quality recordings, that is useful in progressing to a doctoral program or professional career. San Francisco Cultural Life San Francisco offers one of the most exciting cosmopolitan cultural and artistic settings in the world. Musical enrichment outside the university environment includes performances by a world-class symphony and opera, and more than 20 professional new-music ensembles and organizations based in San Francisco. Interdisciplinary Resources Housed within the College of Creative Arts, the Music Department shares facilities with departments of dance, theater, cinema, and broadcasting, offering rich opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations. Electronic Music Facilities The Music Department maintains a state-of-the-art MIDI-based electronic music lab with digital editing facilities and a range of synthesizers and computers. A second MIDI lab is equiped with music-engraving and music-sequencing software.