The Wisconsin Alliance for Composers (WAC) has finished reviewing submissions for its 2020 Student Composition Contest. The results from the 2020 contest can be found here. The judges will award cash prizes to the winning compositions and name honorable mentions.

Applicants will submit to one of four categories:

Elementary School (grades K-5)
Middle School (grades 6-8)
High School (grades 9-12)
Undergraduate college

Eligibility

Applicants must be Wisconsin residents or out-of-state students studying full-time in Wisconsin.

Prizes

The winning composition in each category will receive a cash award: Elementary School ($25), Middle School ($50), High School ($75), and undergraduate ($100).

The judges will designate one or more honorable mentions in each category.

Winners and honorable mentions will receive a certificate recognizing their achievement.

Submission Guidelines

All submission materials will only be accepted in an email to John Mayrose (mayrosej@uwosh.edu)

Each applicant may submit only one composition.

Submit a completed application form.

Submit one legible, anonymous score as a PDF. A score is not required if the composition is purely electronic (i.e. it exists as an audio recording with no notated musical score). The only identifying information on the score should be the title. Scores that include the student’s and/or teacher’s name will not be considered.

Submit an mp3 recording (encouraged but not required). The recording may be of a live performance or a MIDI realization.

A composition that makes use of a copyrighted text must be accompanied by a written statement from the copyright holder giving permission to use the text. If the text is in the public domain, a statement signed by the student and teacher indicating this fact must accompany the entry.

Submissions must be received by Monday, November 16, 2020.

Additional Information

All judges’ decisions are final. Judges may elect to award no prizes.

WAC typically invites students and their families to an award ceremony and concert featuring the winning compositions at its annual New Music Festival in February. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however, WAC has not yet determined if its February 2021 New Music Festival will take place. Participants will be notified in regards to this decision when the contest results are announced at the end of the year.

Please email John Mayrose (mayrosej@uwosh.edu) with any questions.

Want to listen to winning submissions from this year’s contest? Click here!

Results from Previous Contests

2020 Results