Scholastic Composer Competition Rules

                                Competition is open to any pupil in grades K-12 who resides in or is enrolled in the public, private, parochial,                   charter, or home schools in Summit County and the surrounding area.
    Deadline Extended: March 1st, 2026!

1. WHO MAY ENTER?

• Any student in grades Kindergarten through grade Twelve who resides in or is enrolled in the public, private, parochial or home schools in Summit County and the surrounding counties.

 
2. TYPE OF ENTRIES

• Individual: A single student submitting an original composition.
• Group: Any two or more students in grades Kindergarten through Twelve may submit an original composition created together. Group participants may be from the same or different grade levels.
  1. If a group has students from different grade levels, the composition should be entered at the average grade level of the students. If the average grade is not a whole number, round up to the next highest grade.

 
3. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC MAY BE ENTERED?

• Grades K-8 – Compositions may be for:  individual instrumental, group instrumental, individual vocal, group vocal, piano and electronic media (must submit a schematic plan as well as audio recording.)
• Grades 9-12 – Compositions may be for:  vocal solo, small vocal ensemble, instrumental solo, piano solo, small instrumental ensemble and electronic media (must submit a schematic plan as well as an audio recording.) All compositions must include an audio recording.
• Special Education Children – Teachers should determine the grade level at which the compositions should be judged and enter them at those levels.
• A composition may be entered into only one category.
• This contest is for original compositions only. Arrangements will not be accepted.

 
4. ELECTRONIC MEDIA

• As of 2024, students may submit original compositions that are created with electronic/digital applications.
• Electronic media compositions must have at least one instrumental or vocal part which can be performed with the electronic music at the Premiere Performance.
• Applications which may be used include but are not limited to: Ableton, Audacity, Cubase, FL Studio, GarageBand, Logic, Max and Studio One.

 
5. ORIGINALITY:

• The contestant may be advised in matters of notation and performance terminology, i.e. tempo terms, metronome markings, style terms, articulations. The contestant must NOT be advised, influenced, or coached in any way regarding the composition of melodic ideas/construction, harmonies (voicings, progressions, specific chord types, etc.), formal construction (sonata form, rondo, etc.), or other such musical means that would suggest the submission is not the original creative work of the contestant. Any indication(s) that the originality of the submission is not the authentic work of the contestant may disqualify the submission. Lyrics do not have to be original.

 
6. WHAT FORM/STYLE MAY BE USED?

• Any form may be used from a single line melody or song to sonata-allegro form. Any style is appropriate.

 
7. HOW LONG CAN THE COMPOSITION BE?

• Compositions may be any number of measures needed to express the intent of the composer.  (A long composition is not necessarily a good one).  The committee reserves the right to limit the performance time at the Premiere Performance.

 
8. WHAT TYPE OF MANUSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED?

• Manuscripts must be submitted on a sheet of 9, 10, or 12 stave paper with the exception of band and orchestra measure paper or computer-generated manuscripts. Submit the entire page regardless of the length of the composition.
• Grades K-3: Composers who wish to submit a manuscript in their own writing may use pencil.  This applies to classroom groups as well as individuals.
•  Grades 4-12: All manuscripts must be written in ink or computer-generated by the composer.  In the case of group compositions, they must be written by one selected individual from the group.
• Grades K-12:
  1. All manuscripts must be accompanied by the official entry application which is included with these rules.
  2. Names must NOT appear on the manuscript.
  3. All compositions will be returned to the entrant.
  4. Copies may be accepted if readable (clear and crisp).
  5. All High School level compositions must include an audio recording.
• All compositions must have been written by the students submitting them since the closing date of the previous Scholastic Composers Contest.

 
9. TO WHOM SHOULD THE COMPOSITIONS BE SUBMITTED?

• Children’s Concert Society, E. J. Thomas Hall, Akron, OH 44325-0501 or online at www.childrensconcertsociety.org
• Compositions MUST be submitted with an official entry application.

 
10. WHO WILL JUDGE THESE COMPOSITIONS?

• Entries will be assessed by a panel of judges from the University of Akron, School of Music, Composition Department. The judging is done in March. Students will receive notification of placement and judges’ comments at the conclusion of the judging. First place winners will also be invited to perform at the Premiere Performance, typically held the last Wednesday of April.

 
11. WHAT AWARDS ARE BEING OFFERED?

• Certificates of award will be given to 1st place winners. Only one certificate will be given for winning group compositions.  Any student who has won a first place in two previous contests shall, if nominated to win a third time, receive a plaque award.  A repeat winner will receive a bar for his or her plaque denoting each year of winning an award. First place winners may also receive monetary scholarship awards determined by the judges and members of the Scholastic Composers Contest committee.

 
12. WILL THERE BE RECOGNITION?

• First-Place compositions will be recognized and performed at the Premiere Performance. ALL FIRST-PLACE WINNERS WILL BE EXPECTED TO ATTEND AND PERFORM THEIR COMPOSITIONS AS WRITTEN. All performances must be live. Exceptions to this must be cleared by the Scholastic Composers Contest committee (330-972-2504).  Any electronic pieces must have at least one acoustic instrument or vocal part that would be performed live in conjunction with the audio recording. Ribbons for second, third and honorable mention winners will accompany the returned compositions. Every composer will receive a ribbon except for classes.  A class will receive one ribbon. The highest award, the Ralph Gillman Award, is selected by the judges from the first-place winners.

 
13. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• If your composition requires a piano accompanist, you are responsible for your own accompanist.
• THE OFFICIAL ENTRY APPLICATION must be attached to the composition and signed by the music teacher.
• All scores (compositions) become property of the Contest Committee until returned to owners.
• The committee reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not conform to the rules of the contest.  Composers will be notified of disqualification prior to the Premiere Performance.
• Scholastic Composer Committee members whose children are entered in the contest are ineligible to serve on the Scholarship Award Committee.

COMPOSERS CONTEST APPLICATION

Frequently Asked Questions
​

Can home school children participate?

​Any pupil in grades Kindergarten through grade Twelve who resides in or is enrolled in the public, private, parochial, charter or home schools in Summit County and the surrounding area.

Do compositions have to be original?

​Yes! This contest is for original compositions only. Arrangements will not be accepted.

Who will be judging?

​Entries will be judged by a panel of judges from the University of Akron, School of Music, Composition Department.

Are there performance opportunities?

​Yes, First-Place compositions will be recognized and performed at the Premiere Performance.

​Questions? Contact us.

If you have any questions please call 330-972-2504.

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