The Challenge
The National Young Composers Challenge is open to young musicians ages 13 to 18 who are U.S. residents.
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 a professional symphony orchestra at the NYCC Composium. We are excited to announce that the 2016 Composium will be held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on November 13, 2016.
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.
2016 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 2016 finalists, click here.
2016 Winners
Normally, three ensemble submissions and three full-orchestra submissions are selected from the finalists. However, since this year we were overwhelmed with so many amazing scores, the judges have decided to select six winning submissions from the ensemble finalists. In addition to the three winning orchestra submissions, two additional orchestra scores have been awarded Honorable Mention prizes of $500 each, and will be performed and recorded during the first portion of the orchestra readings. From the above finalists, the judges have selected the following winning compositions to be performed at the 2016 Composium:
Ensemble Winners
Wind Quartet 1st Movement - William Shabecoff - Greenwich, CT - age 15
Violin Sonata op. 1, 3rd Movement - Daniel Cho - Wyncote, PA - age 14
On the Line - Elise Arancio - Tucker, GA - age 15
Elliptical Trinket - Calvin Yost-Wolff - Lawrence, KS - age 17
Letters Unwritten: A Short Brass Quintet - Tucker Johnson - St. Petersburg, FL - age 17
Piano Quartet no. 1 in B-Flat Major "Heroica" - Theodore Servin - Hollywood, FL - age 14
Full Orchestra - Honorable Mention
Colors of Spring - Isabella Dussias - Hillsborough, NJ - age 13
Prelude Serrate - Andrew Wang - Johns Creek, GA - age 13
Full Orchestra Winners
Spira - Julian Galesi - Brooklyn, NY - age 16
Largo for Orchestra - Daniel Zarb-Cousin - Huntington Beach, CA - age 16
Full Measure of Devotion - Robert Tindle - Miami, FL - 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 Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, University of Central Florida, Rollins College, Full Sail University, and the Goldman Charitable Foundation.