PCMEA New Music Festival 2020-2021
Formerly Composition Contest
Congratulations to our 2021 Winners!
$250 Grand Prize
Ben Dunham, Starcave for brass and timpani (Tarpon Springs, Kevin Ford)
$100 Circle of Excellence
Nolen Liu, Deep Into the Forest for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano (PCCA at Gibbs, Ann Adair)
Caeden Ottens, Evolution for six trumpets (Tarpon Springs, Kevin Ford)
Kaimi Dilbeck, Kinesis for wind ensemble (Hollins, John Henderson)
$50 Honorable Mention
Alexander Turner, Innerdalen for string orchestra (Palm Harbor, James Dykes)
Larissa Samson, Dance for 3 clarinets (East Lake, Ian Black)
Cameron Cook, Shade of the Sea for piano (Clearwater, Randy Allen)
$250 Grand Prize
Ben Dunham, Starcave for brass and timpani (Tarpon Springs, Kevin Ford)
$100 Circle of Excellence
Nolen Liu, Deep Into the Forest for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano (PCCA at Gibbs, Ann Adair)
Caeden Ottens, Evolution for six trumpets (Tarpon Springs, Kevin Ford)
Kaimi Dilbeck, Kinesis for wind ensemble (Hollins, John Henderson)
$50 Honorable Mention
Alexander Turner, Innerdalen for string orchestra (Palm Harbor, James Dykes)
Larissa Samson, Dance for 3 clarinets (East Lake, Ian Black)
Cameron Cook, Shade of the Sea for piano (Clearwater, Randy Allen)
General Requirements
1. Previously published works are not eligible for submission.
2. The composition must include a title.
3. Compositions must not exceed three (3) minutes in duration.
4. Compositions may be for a solo instrument or voice, or for an ensemble of instruments and/or voices. Solo submissions should include a lead sheet or piano accompaniment.
5. Each applicant may submit a maximum of two compositions, but each composition requires a separate application.
6. Applicants must have a faculty sponsor who is a member of PCMEA.
7. Students may submit compositions and receive evaluations in consecutive years, but no student can win an award or have a composition selected for performance in any two consecutive years
8. Plagiarism of copyrighted material is illegal. It is the responsibility of the composer to assure that music submitted is not copyrighted. If any elements of the composition entry are copyrighted, it is the responsibility of the composer to secure permission for use of those elements. For more information on copyright, go to www.nafme.org/copyright.
2. The composition must include a title.
3. Compositions must not exceed three (3) minutes in duration.
4. Compositions may be for a solo instrument or voice, or for an ensemble of instruments and/or voices. Solo submissions should include a lead sheet or piano accompaniment.
5. Each applicant may submit a maximum of two compositions, but each composition requires a separate application.
6. Applicants must have a faculty sponsor who is a member of PCMEA.
7. Students may submit compositions and receive evaluations in consecutive years, but no student can win an award or have a composition selected for performance in any two consecutive years
8. Plagiarism of copyrighted material is illegal. It is the responsibility of the composer to assure that music submitted is not copyrighted. If any elements of the composition entry are copyrighted, it is the responsibility of the composer to secure permission for use of those elements. For more information on copyright, go to www.nafme.org/copyright.
Submission Checklist
Each submission should contain:
1. The Score and parts in PDF format.
2. The audio of the composition. Midi files are acceptable (from composition software applications.)
3. Submissions due by March 1, 2021. All materials should be uploaded through this form: http://bit.ly/pcmea
1. The Score and parts in PDF format.
2. The audio of the composition. Midi files are acceptable (from composition software applications.)
3. Submissions due by March 1, 2021. All materials should be uploaded through this form: http://bit.ly/pcmea
Composition Evaluation Criteria
Compositions submitted to the PCMEA New Music Festival are evaluated according to three broad criteria:
1. Compositional Technique includes the following elements, where applicable:
1. Compositional Technique includes the following elements, where applicable:
- Organization of pitch elements (such as melody, harmony, and counterpoint)
- Organization of rhythmic elements
- Formal design
- Accuracy and clarity of notation
- Appropriate writing for instruments and/or voices
- Stylistic coherence (regardless of the particular style)
- Effective handling of unity/variety and tension/release
- Effective use of dynamics, articulations, and expression marks
- Interaction of all of the elements (atmosphere, mood, direction, and flow of the music)
- Refers to aspects of the piece that reveal the composer’s individual “voice” and distinguish the piece from a musical exercise or a direct imitation of another piece.