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.
2021 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 2021 finalists, click here.
2021 Honorable Mentions
The judges would like to recognize two compositions that came close to being selected as winners and deserve Honorable Mentions.
Ensemble
Piano Quintet No. 1 - Kevin Nam - Bellevue, WA - age 17
Full Orchestra
Emergent - Siddarth Pant - San Jose, CA - age 16
2021 Winners
Each year the winning compositions for the National Young Composers Challenge are selected from the list of that year's finalists. The National Young Composers Challenge is excited to announce the winners of the 2021 NYCC challege. From the finalists, the judges have selected the following compositions to be performed at the 2022 Composium in April. The winners are listed below in alphabetical order. This order does not imply relative ratings.
Ensemble
Migraine for String Quartet - Jack Kaiser - Interlochen, MI - age 16
Mosquito Stars - Yuri Lee - Tuckahoe, NY - age 17
Altitude - Luca Pasquini - Denver, CO - age 17
Full Orchestra
Vis Viva - Jonah Cohen - Farmington Hills, MI - age 17
Wonder of the World - Jacob Evarts - Locust Grove, GA - age 18
Like a Single Star in the Night Sky - Charlie Zhong - Brookline, MA - age 14
2019 Winners
Since the 2020 and 2021 NYCC Composiums were cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, the winners of the 2019 National Young Composers Challenge will be performed and recorded at the 2022 Composium along with the winners for 2021. The 2019 winners are listed below in alphabetical order. This order does not imply relative ratings.
Ensemble
Rainfall Through Windshields - Joey Baroco - Pensacola, FL - age 16
Snowfall in Spring - Gabriel Fynsk - Brooklyn, NY - age 18
Needles to the Ground - Jane Meenaghan - Los Angeles, CA - age 18
Full Orchestra
Assembly for Summer Voices - Ian Barnett - Key Biscayne, FL - age 15
Rescue Mission for Two - Jayden Tiemann - Princeton, IL - age 17
Battle of the Orchestra - Brendan Weinbaum - Atlanta, GA - age 17
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.