Welcome to CompFest, the annual Harvard Student Composers Festival presented by the Office for the Arts with artistic director Veronica Leahy '23. The Spotlight Series takes place over three days and features commentary from esteemed professional composers in the field and performances of original work by student composers. In keeping with the CompFest spirit of inclusiveness and connections through music, the conversation around each piece also includes the audience. Join us for great music, engaging ideas and a spotlight on the creative process — all in a relaxed setting.  

Plywright, composer and lyricist Michael R. Jackson is the featured guest artist for the Spotlight Keynote event at 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 in the Horner Room at Agassiz Theatre. Jackson's musical Strange Loop won a whole bunch of awards. "With his bravura meta-musical, A Strange Loop, the playwright is showing Broadway audiences something they have never seen before," wrote the New York Times in 2022. Read more about Jackson here. 

Featured student work includes selections from the original musicals: Atalanta, Queen of Magic and OUT. 

This event is free and open to the public.  No tickets required. Join us. We welcome all audience members.

Additional Spotlight Series include Vijay Iyer on April 10, Linda May Han Oh on April 11 and CompFest Cabaret on April 15. See all events in CompFest 2023.