The Wisconsin Alliance for Composers (WAC) is accepting submissions for its 2022 Student Composition Contest. Prizes will include cash awards and live performances at the WAC New Music Festival at UW Whitewater on Sunday, April 16, 2023.  Please choose one of the application options below.

Categories and Prizes

Applicants are invited to submit original compositions for 1-5 performers in one of the following categories:

• Elementary (grades K-5)
  • Prize: $25 cash award and performance at WAC New Music Festival
• Middle School (grades 6-8)
  • Prize: $50 cash award and performance at WAC New Music Festival
• High School (grades 9-12)
  • Prize: $75 cash award and performance at WAC New Music Festival
• Undergraduate College
  • Prize: $100 cash award and performance at WAC New Music Festival

The judges may choose one or more honorable mentions for each category. Honorable mentions will receive a performance at the WAC New Music Festival.

Contest Rules

• Applicants must be residents of Wisconsin or studying full time in Wisconsin.
• Each applicant may submit only one composition per category.
• Compositions must be for 1-5 performers. Electronic music compositions that exist solely as an audio file are also accepted.
• Submissions must be original compositions. Arrangements and transcriptions are not accepted.
• Applicants must submit to the category corresponding to their grade during the 2022-23 school year.
• Works under 10 minutes in duration are preferred.
• Judges’ decisions are final. Judges may elect to award no prize in any category.

WAC New Music Festival

• The winning students and honorable mentions are encouraged to attend the WAC New Music Festival at UW Whitewater on Sunday, April 16, 2023 to be recognized and receive their award.
• Winning students and honorable mentions are encouraged to perform their own compositions at the WAC New Music Festival. If students prefer not to or cannot perform their own composition, every effort will be made to secure a performance by professional or university musicians.
• Festival performances of winning works and honorable mentions will be recorded. Students will receive an audio recording of their performance.

Submission Requirements

• Submissions must be received by Tuesday, November 1, 2022.
• Submit materials using this online Application Form (requires Google account) or email this PDF Application Form and other submission materials to mayrosej@uwosh.edu.
• Submit one legible musical score as a PDF. Scores may be computer-notated or hand-written.
• Scores must be submitted anonymously. Do not include the student or teacher name on the score. The only identifying information on the score should be the composition’s title.
• MP3 audio recordings of a live performance or computer realization are encouraged, but not required.
• An MP3 file must be submitted for compositions that exist solely as an audio file and do not utilize acoustic instruments (e.g. electronic music compositions). A score is not required for these compositions.
• Compositions that use text must be accompanied by a written statement signed by the student and teacher affirming 1) the submission includes an original text written by the applicant, 2) the text is in the public domain, or 3) the text’s copyright holder has granted permission to use the text.

Additional Information

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

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Results from Previous Contests

2021 Results

2020 Results

WAC is a non-profit, tax-exempt Wisconsin corporation founded in 1984 to encourage and support the composition and performance of new music by Wisconsin composers.