Dr. Gabriel Lubell is a lecturer for the Music in General Studies department of the Jacobs School of Music. An uncommonly versatile and award-winning educator, he holds three advanced degrees and has taught courses on composition, music theory, rock and roll, world music, astronomy, and beyond. His creative work is similarly varied, having delighted international audiences and elicited praise from Iggy Pop for being “really spot-on music.” As the JCA director, he is deeply committed to creating a welcoming environment for all participants that melds high-level musicianship with a spirit of stylistic openness, collaboration, and discovery.

Laura Pacheco Nieto is a Colombian composer, singer, and educator whose music blends the rhythms and traditions of Latin American folklore with contemporary compositional techniques, exploring texture, timbre, and counterpoint. Inspired by nature, birds, travel, and the cultural diversity of Latin America, she creates immersive sonic landscapes rooted in curiosity, memory, and connection. A lifelong salsa enthusiast, she also finds creative energy in dance and community. Passionate about teaching, Laura believes every student has a unique artistic voice. She sees each lesson as an opportunity to discover a new universe, learning alongside her students while encouraging them to develop their own creative identities. Her compositions have been recognized internationally, and she holds a Master of Music in Composition from Indiana University. She will begin a Doctor of Music degree with Gabriel Jenks in Fall 2026.

Equally inspired by science and spirituality, William Hawkins (b. 1997) finds material in fluid dynamics, microbiology, modern hubris, and spiritual meditations. Drawing on his experience as a composer, conductor, violist, vocalist, and visual artist, as well as an emerging performer and composer of electroacoustic music, Hawkins explores the extremes of musical density, often utilizing dramatic contrasts to find new paths toward catharsis. Winner of the American Prize, Hawkins is widely performed, with premiers at the Brevard Music Center, Mostly Modern Festival, International Double Reed Society conference, Atlantic Music Festival, Alba Music Festival, and the Walden Creative Musician’s Retreat. Hawkins holds a BA in Music from Brown University and is pursuing a Masters in Composition and Computer Music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. He is an enthusiastic teacher at the Jacobs Composition Academy, sharing his passion as well as honed tutoring skills in lessons and classes.

Dr. Wesley Thompson is a composer, teacher, writer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Bloomington, Indiana. Drawing from eclectic influences including 20th-century classical music, progressive rock/heavy metal, and video game soundtracks, Thompson blurs the boundaries between both genres and art forms. A love of improvisation, born from his piano background, is integral to his compositional style. A passionate educator, Thompson holds a doctorate in composition from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. He believes everyone’s creative voice is unique and seeks to guide students to become the best version of themselves, both as musicians and individuals.

An-Ni Wei is a doctoral student in composition at the Jacobs School of Music, with a minor in computer music and music theory. An award-winning composer, her music has earned honors in a National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra composition competition and traveled from film festivals in Berlin and London to concert halls in Taipei and Paris. Her work spans orchestral writing, electronic music, soundscape composition, self-built sensor instruments, film scoring, and musical theater, using sound to explore social issues one day and pure playful mischief the next. She's drawn to working alongside composers of all styles and backgrounds, helping them shape their next new work.

Jacob Wilkinson is currently pursuing doctoral degrees in composition and theory at the Jacobs School of Music. He has been teaching theory at Jacobs for five years and composition at the JCA for three years. In all his musical activities, he is interested in exploring the nature of musical relationships, be they among composers, performers, listeners, theorists, and/or fictional musical characters. As a theorist, he often brings an analytical perspective to composition pedagogy. However, he can just as often be found pestering theorists for being too analytical. Previous composition instructors include Richard Danielpour, Susan Botti, and Michael Hersch.

Our flagship offering, this track is a comprehensive course of study. By combining private lessons, a group class, and a performance opportunity, students are ideally positioned to grow as musicians through lively interaction, practice, and exploration. Over twelve weeks, participants will engage in:

• Weekly 50-minute private lessons (scheduled according to teacher and student availability.)
• Weekly 60-minute group classes on Tuesdays, 8:30-9:30PM EST.
• The performance of a newly composed work for a set ensemble of approximately 3-5 players.
  • Specific instrumentation and other constraints to be discussed during the first week of instruction.
  • Works will be programmed on a JCA student recital, held on the IU campus during the final week of the program. In-person attendance is highly encouraged, but virtual modes will be offered.
  • Students will be able to workshop their in-progress compositions during a short reading session approximately three weeks before the performance.
  • Programming of works and participation in readings is contingent on regular attendance of lessons and group classes, and staff approval.

Tuition: $800

If you already have a private composition teacher, this track affords the opportunity to expand your artistic support network. While it does not include private lessons, the class provides a rare and valuable space for learning in the joyous company of other composers. Together with Track 1 participants, over the same twelve weeks, Track 2 students will engage in:

• Weekly 60-minute group classes on Tuesdays, 8:30-9:30PM EST.
• The performance of a newly composed work for a set ensemble of approximately 3-5 players.
  • Specific instrumentation and other constraints to be discussed during the first week of instruction.
  • Works will be programmed on a JCA student recital, held on the IU campus during the final week of the program. In-person attendance is highly encouraged, but virtual modes will be offered.
  • Students will be able to workshop their in-progress compositions during a short reading session approximately three weeks before the performance.
  • Programming of works and participation in readings is contingent on regular attendance of group classes and staff approval.

Tuition: $550