The symposium provides a forum for composition students to consider and discuss issues in musical creativity and twentieth-century music. The Symposium consists of critical discussion of works performed in Composers Forum concerts, topics presented by faculty and guests, and masterclasses.

The Symposium has hosted such distinguished visiting composers as Stephen Albert, William Albright, Louis Andriessen, Dominick Argento, Milton Babbitt, William Bolcom, Benjamin Boretz, Pierre Boulez, Elliott Carter, John Corigliano, George Crumb, Michael Daugherty, Mario Davidovsky, David Del Tredici, Jacob Druckman, Donald Erb, Morton Feldman, Lukas Foss, John Harbison, Alun Hoddinott, Karel Husa, Leon Kirchner, Barbara Kolb, Alvin Lucier, Donald Martino, Per Norgard, Pauline Oliveros, Krzysztof Penderecki, Vincent Persichetti, Bernard Rands, Steve Reich, George Rochberg, Gunther Schuller, William Schuman, Ralph Shapey, Toru Takemitsu, Virgil Thomson, Joan Tower, Chinary Ung, Richard Wernick, Charles Wuorinen and Yehudi Wyner.