JUNIOR COMPOSERS
Junior Composers Contest, WFMC
Updates for 2023 coming soon.
The WFMC wishes to congratulate Whitney Woolf, a student of Sam Ecoff for receiving national recognition for her winning 2022 National Music Week Essay. See the Junior Keynotes Magazine for the winning essays!
Don’t you wish that there was one contest that hasn’t changed due to COVID? Well, guess what?!?! There is! It’s the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Composers Contest! We’ve always had students turn in their scores remotely. Now, with online submissions at www.nfmc-music.org, it’s easier than ever to enter. There are cash prizes for the winners in each division, and students get lots of really helpful comments from our awesome judges. Students in classes II and IV even get scholarships to attend the Junior Composers Institute just for entering (there’s an online version too!).
It is time to start thinking about the 2022 WFMC Junior Composer’s Contest. Please encourage your students to participate as this is a competition with winners and cash prizes at the state, regional and national levels. There are 1st and 2nd place winners in each of the four classes whose compositions are forwarded to the North Central Region. In addition to the possibility of monetary awards, each entrant receives a rating sheet, and points towards earning a gold cup just like in the performance area of the Federation Festivals.
This competition is for all junior composers whether they are experienced in composing or just beginning. Entrants do not need to be studying composition. Any member of a Junior Club or any Individual Junior member of the WFMC is eligible. Students through the age of 18, at any level of ability may enter a composition. Compositions may be for keyboard, voice, other instruments or any combination.
Please be aware of the changes in rules for submission of applications and compositions: All compositions and application forms must be sent as a pdf, produced and notated via a notation software program or hand notated and scanned. To submit your score, visit https://www.nfmc-music.org/applicant-file-upload/ Once there, click the circle next to “Competitions and awards Entrant”. Under Select Competition,” choose “Junior Composer’s Awards – The NFMC Junior Composers Contest” and then select the appropriate class of the entrant. Enter the student’s name and the teacher’s e-mail address. Finally, drag the score and application in PDF format to the box at the bottom of the screen and click “SUBMIT”. If you need any help, please fee free to call me at 262-696-6459. Submissions must be received no later than Jan. 20, 2022.
Entry fees must also be paid online this year. To pay your entry fees, visit https://www.nfmc-music.org/payment/ Under “Plans,” select Competition Entry Fees. In the “Note” box, enter “Junior Composers.” Under “Unit Cost” type in $28.00 and then select 1 as the quantity. The total amount you will be billed will be displayed.
We are pleased to once again offer an opportunity for entrants in Classes III and IV to attend the Junior Composer Summer Program sponsored by the North Central Region of the NFMC. The 2022 program will be held at UW-River Falls. Much more information can be found at www.juniorcomposers.org. Students will have an opportunity to attend a one or two-week session. WFMC will award a half tuition scholarship to all students attending the Junior Composers summer program for merely entering this year’s NFMC Junior Composers contest!
Rules for the Junior Composers Contest and an application are included. If you have any questions, please contact me at 262-696-6459 or secoff@wfmc-music.org.
Sam Ecoff
Junior Composers Chair