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 the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the NYCC Composium. The next Composium will be held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, April 14, 2019.
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.
2017 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 2017 finalists, click here.
2017 Winners
The National Young Composers Challenge is excited to announce the winners of the 2017 NYCC challege. From the finalists, the judges have selected the following compositions to be performed at the 2017 Composium. The winners are listed below in alphabetical order. This order does not imply relative ratings.
To listen to recordings of the winning compositions from the 2017 Composium, click here.
Ensemble
Kuma Lisa - Elise Arancio - Tucker, GA - age 16
The Story of Tristan and Isolde - Gahwon Lee - Plano, TX - age 18
Three Night Pieces I - Paul Novak - Reno, NV - age 18
Full Orchestra
The Paper Man - Harrison Collins - Little Elm, TX - age 17
Dreamscape - Zev Malina - Harrisburg, PA - age 14
Fantasy for Orchestra - Daniel Zarb-Cousin - Huntington Beach, CA - 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.