What happens when student composers get to hear their music brought to life—by real musicians, in a real concert hall?

This episode of Pilot Projects explores a new initiative at UVA that provides undergraduate composers the opportunity to write, revise, and showcase original compositions performed by professional musicians. With 17 world premieres, a packed house at Old Cabell Hall, and a powerful focus on collaboration and refinement, the Undergraduate Composers Concert—led by Professor Leah Reid—redefines what's possible for young creators working in acoustic and electronic music. We hear from Professor Reid about her Jefferson Trust-funded project, the role of AI and data sonification in student work, and the importance of live performance in the compositional process. From orchestral rescores of Netflix scenes to ecoacoustic brass quintets, this project gave students a rare chance to hear and share their music—beyond the limitations of MIDI. Sponsored by the Jefferson Trust, this project supports an expanded future for composition instruction and public performance at UVA, helping students move from ideas to impact through sound. Keep up with the next Undergraduate Composers Concert in Spring 2026 by following UVA’s Music Department at https://music.virginia.edu/ .

Watch the live stream from the inaugural concert on April 19th, 2025 here: https://www.youtube.com/live/M3yZTsEB7Hs

Sound on Grounds works in collaboration with WTJU’s Virginia Audio Collective. Check out more Sound on Grounds podcasts at virginiaaudio.com. The Pilot Projects show cover was designed by UVA alum Carina Velocci. This episode features music by student composers Hannah Martin, Eduardo Hinkley, Hunter Colson, and Jeremy Chase. It also features music from Chubby Checker, Little Richard, George Harrison, Fleetwood Mac, The Cars, Cadmium Orange, and Magnolia Electric Co. Original music used in this episode was written and recorded by Jason Evans Groth.