National Young Composers Challenge

The Challenge


The Challenge is simple. First, you write your own composition for small ensemble (2 to 6 instruments) or full orchestra. Then, a panel of judges chooses the top three orchestral and top three ensemble compositions to be performed and recorded by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the NYCC Composium held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts - Steinmetz Hall in Orlando, Florida.


PRIZES

At the Composium, each winning orchestral composer will be awarded $1000 and each winning ensemble composer will be awarded $500.

PLUS! Each winner will receive a professional recording of their composition.

2023 Finalists

Each year the National Young Composers Challenge receives a large number of submissions from every corner of the United States. The sophistication and quality of the scores has continued to grow each year. Because of the difficulty of picking only a few winners in each category, the judges also announce the list of finalists from which the winning scores will be selected. Each one of these composers deserves recognition as a winner, but unfortunately only a few scores can be selected from the finalists as winners.

To view the list of 2023 finalists, click here.

2023 Winners

The winners of the 2023 NYCC challege are listed below in alphabetical order.

Ensemble

Preservation of Adolescence - Fabian Leung - Murphy, TX - age 17

Photon - Cyrano Rosentrater - Philadelphia, PA - age 16

Our Last Cascading Hour - Linda-Joy Shishan - Orlando, FL - age 18

Full Orchestra

Scherzo for Orchestra - Dylan Hall - Albany, CA - age 15

Forever in the Wind - Hudson Holland - Cape Coral, FL - age 16

David, Movement II - Bakhari Nokuri - Dayton, MD - age 18

CONTACT US

If you have a question regarding the National Young Composers Challenge, you can contact us at mail@ followed by YoungComposersChallenge.org.

SPONSORS

The National Young Composers Challenge is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization supported by grants and in-kind donations from the University of Central Florida, Rollins College, Full Sail University, Timucua Arts Foundation, and the Goldman Charitable Foundation.