ARRANGERS & COMPOSERS

The Arrangers & Composers Program is designed for musicians who wish to create a new work in collaboration with the TFM Resident Ensemble or with their own ensemble, and premiere it during TFM’s weekend concerts.
There is no additional application fee, and any officially registered participant of Tango for Musicians at Reed College 2026 may apply.

Artistic Process

Participants must prepare their piece in advance, new works cannot be written during the on-site week.
During the program, activities include:

Morning Masterclass Sessions: rehearsal and refinement of the work with faculty guidance
Premiere Performance: presentation of the piece in a weekend concert

Applicants may work with the TFM Resident Ensemble (tango sextet) or with their own pre-formed ensemble, provided all members are registered and available.

Spots & Eligibility

Up to 10 participants, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis after approval
Accepted applicants must complete their TFM 2026 registration payment within 48 hours
Faculty may assign extra online coaching if needed
Those who do not complete the required online preparation may still attend classes but cannot have their work rehearsed

Important Dates

Application & Registration: January 12 – April 1, 2026
Final Score Deadline: May 25, 2026 (no late submissions)

Ensemble Options

TFM Resident Ensemble
Standard tango sextet organized by Tango Sin Fin (2 bandoneons, 2 violins, piano, double bass)
Own Pre-formed Ensemble
All members registered in TFM 2026
Availability for all three Morning Masterclasses and the weekend concert
Minimum four instruments
Other Ensemble Formats (e.g., guitar quartet, string quartet)
Applicant must coordinate participating musicians
All required availability
Minimum four instruments

Tango Sin Fin does not coordinate ensembles other than the Resident Ensemble.

Music Requirements

Works must:

Be an original arrangement or composition
Not have been previously premiered, recorded, or performed
Include full musical information
Be written for 3+ instruments
Last 2–4 minutes

Applicants are evaluated on previous works or a near-final draft. Early application is recommended for those who may need online coaching.

How to Apply

From January 12 – April 1, 2026, applicants must submit the online Arrangers & Composers Application Form, including:

Ensemble type
Whether the project is an arrangement or an original composition
One evaluation material:
– Sibelius 8 file
– PDF + audio
– PDF + MIDI
– PDF + recording of the applicant’s ensemble

Materials may be previous works or a final/near-final version of the new piece.