In celebration of Make Music Day 2017, MakeMusic is hosting a composition contest for young composers, aged 13-21. The winner will receive cash and other prizes. In addition, their composition will be made available to all users of SmartMusic Teach Free and will be performed live in select cities as part of national Make Music Day celebrations.
Young Composers Contest Entry Details
Entries can be created in any notation software. Musicians without notation software are encouraged to download a free 30 day trial of Finale and start creating. Contestants must submit both PDF and MusicXML files of their composition. (All licensing rights to pieces submitted will remain with each composer.)
Eligible compositions must use (and are limited to) the following instrumentation and should be written at a level of difficulty that could be performed by a typical middle school band:
| Flute/Oboe | F Horn |
| Bb Clarinet | Trombone/Baritone B.C./Bassoon |
| Alto Saxophone | Tuba |
| Tenor Saxophone | Bells |
| Bb Trumpet | Percussion |
(This instrumentation is available as the Beginning Band template in Finale.)
All submissions are due by 11:59 pm Mountain Time on Monday, May 8th, 2017. We’ll announce the winner on May 22.
Contest Prizes
In addition to having their competition included in SmartMusic and performed at MakeMusic Day events, the winning young composer will receive:
- $250 one-time cash prize
- Finale v25
- Garritan Marching & Concert Band 2 sound library
- One-year SmartMusic Student subscription
- One-year student membership to American Composers Forum
Are you over 21? It’s time to be a mentor. Please share the contest with students and young friends. You’ll find complete details and rules on the contest website.
We’d also like to extend our thanks to our cosponsors, the American Composers Forum and the Make Music Alliance, for helping to make this contest possible.