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2020 Student Composition Contest & Festival

The Wisconsin Alliance for Composers (WAC) is accepting submissions for its 2020 Student Composition Contest. Prizes will include cash awards and a performance by professional and/or university musicians at the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers New Music Festival at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater on February 9, 2020 at 1:00pm. Note the different location this year.

If you are looking for the 2020 WAC New Music Festival, click here.

Official Announcement (pdf)  Application Form

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/Guidelines

• Applicants must be students studying full time in Wisconsin.
• Every effort will be made to have a live performance of every winning work with a reasonable instrumentation and difficulty level. Works for 1 or two performers are more likely to be programmed than works for 3-6 players.
• Works under 10 minutes in duration are preferred.

Prizes

• The winning composition in each category will receive a cash award and a performance at the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers New Music Festival at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater on February 9, 2020 by professional and/or university musicians.
• The cash prize for each category is Elementary School ($25), Middle School ($50), High School ($75), and undergraduate ($100).
• Several honorable mention compositions will also receive a performance at the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers New Music Festival at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater on February 9, 2020 by professional and/or university musicians.
• All winners and honorable mentions will receive a recording of the performance.

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 application form.
• Submit one legible, anonymous score as a PDF. If the composition is purely electronic, then a score is not required. The only identifying information on the score should be the title. Do not include the name of the student or teacher on the score.
• mp3 recordings are encouraged by not required. (MIDI realizations are acceptable)
• 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 4, 2019

Additional Information

• Composers of works selected for performance agree to attend the Wisconsin Alliance for Composers New Music Festival at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater on February 9, 2020.
• All judge decisions are final. Judges may elect to award no prizes.