Composition Contest

SEMMEA Composition Competition 2026

Welcome to the South Eastern District Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s Composition Competition 2026.

We are very excited to announce this year’s top pieces. 

Composition
“Riding Over the Water from Road Trip Suite“- for Symphony Orchestra
Michael D’Espinosa – Attleboro High School

“City Scapes“- for Symphony Orchestra
Jacob Sallette – Canton High School

Electronic Track
“backward” – using Bandlab
Noah James – Somerset Berkley Regional High School

Songwriting Track
“Good as Gold“
Finley O’Doherty – Sturgis Charter Public School East

The top compositions will receive awards at the SEMMEA Senior Festival Concert on January 10th.  

Honorable Mention

Composition – William Zelevinsky – Piano Concerto #1

Composition – Lincoln Clark from Weymouth High School- “Athazagoraphobia”

Electronic – Connor Haney from Somerset Berkley Regional High School – “Dreams End”

Electronic – Max Kelly from Somerset Berkley Regional High School – “Event Horizon”

 

All students who submit pieces are invited to attend the SEMMEA composition clinic, where they will receive comments and support from our composition clinicians. This year, we are excited to have James Bohn from Stonehill College and Levi Cooper, a local area songwriter, as our clinicians.  The clinic this year will take place on Friday, January 9th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at New Bedford High School. 

The goal of the SEMMEA composition competition is to provide students with the opportunity to engage in musical composition, share their pieces with others, and advance their compositional skills and craft.

We encourage all students to submit pieces, no matter what style or length, as any student who submits a piece is invited to attend our clinic. There is no limit to the number of students who can submit pieces or attend the clinic.

1. Students must be from a participating high school in the Southeastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association.
2. Student composers can submit to one of three tracks: Composition, Electronic Music Composition, or Songwriting.  These three tracks align with their respective NAFME Composition Contests.
   • Composition submissions can be in any style or genre, but should more closely align with notated music standards and be intended for performance by live players.  All composition entrants must submit a full score and audio recording; MIDI representations are acceptable but must be exported as an audio file.
   • Electronic composition submissions can be in any style or genre, but should more closely align with electronic music standards and be intended for performance by electronic means. All electronic composition entrants must submit an audio file and some visual representation of their piece.  This can be a screenshot of the song in the program, arrangement sheet, or other graphic score. 
   • Songwriting submissions can be in any style or genre, but should more closely align with song/songwriting music standards, which include lyrics meant to be sung with or without electronic or acoustic accompaniment. All songwriting entrants must submit an audio file and lyrics sheet, though a full lead sheet is preferred.
   • Students and directors are encouraged to check the rubrics below for the specific point considerations for each track.
3. Materials can be submitted to the adjudicator through email, shared with Google Drive (or other shareable cloud/online storage), or a USB Drive can be brought to the auditions. Students are encouraged to submit materials early, though students must still attend the auditions in person.  Materials can be submitted to: JPondaco@duxbury.k12.ma.us
4. It is also helpful if students bring their visual media (scores/screenshots) in hard copy to the auditions and have a digital copy to submit with their audio.
5. All submissions must be original works created by the students. Collaborations are accepted; however, both students must pay the registration fee.
6. Students may enter up to three pieces on one registration for competition, but if more than one is submitted, only one can be selected for the clinic. Pieces should be no longer than 10 minutes.
7. All pieces must be titled and accompanied by the student’s name, school, and email.

1. Directors must register composition students with the other instrumentalists from their school, and will be registered as a composition audition by selecting composition in the group field and then selecting composition, electronic, or song from the instrument field.
2. These students will be registered for an audition time, just as other instrumentalists at the Senior Auditions.  The students should come to the site with their submission materials and be prepared to discuss their music and process.
3. At the auditions, students can wait in the library and wait to be called by the adjudicator.
4. Students may double-register for either or both a composition and an instrumental audition.
5. Students who double register should plan to audition on their instrument first before doing any composition adjudications.
6. Clinics will be at the senior festival. Students who are not in a performing ensemble will need to arrange transportation from a parent or guardian to and from the clinics. 
7. Student composition award recipients will be asked to attend the awards ceremony before the concert to receive their awards.

For more information, contact

2025

Pictures

Not Pictured
2012 Clinic with John MacDonald
2011 Clinic with Jeff Holmes
2010 Clinic with Andrew Boysen
2009 Clinic with Sam Headrick
2008 Clinic with Thomas Duffy