SEMMEA Composition Competition 2023

Welcome to the South Eastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association Composition Competition 2023. Thank you all for a great year.

Here are this year winners.

COMPOSITION COMPETITION

“Arabian Rhapsody” for Wind Ensemble
Caio Dos Santos-Amado – Taunton High School

“Forsaken Song” for Solo Horn and Piano
Emily Riker – Stoughton High School

ELECTRONIC COMPOSITION COMPETITION

“The Unknown” – written using Ableton Live
Santiago Andrews-Mundo – Hull High School

“Wandering” – written using Ableton Lite
Silver Duhamel – Bridgewater-Raynham High School

HONOR MENTION – SONGWRITING

Little Loyal Friend – recorded in Studio One
Ashley Stracco – Hanover High School

It is the goal of the SEMMEA composition competition to offer the opportunity for students to engage in musical composition, share their pieces with others, and advance their compositional learning 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 clinics.  There is no limit to the number of students that can submit pieces or attend the clinic.

1. Students must be from a participating high school in the South Eastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association.
2. Student composers can submit to one of two tracks; Composition or Electronic Music Composition.  These two tracks align with their respective NAFME Composition Contests.
3. Composition submissions can be in any style or genre be should more closely align with notated music standards and be intended for performance by live players.  All composition entrants must submit a full score, PDF score, and audio recording; midi representations are acceptable but must be exported as an audio file.
4. 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 students must submit an audio file and are encouraged to bring some written representation of their piece, if possible, but this is not required.
5. All submissions must be original works created by the students. Collaborations are accepted, however, both students will need to 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 select one 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.  Composition students should be registered as a composition audition by selecting composition in the group field and then selecting composition or electronic from the instrument field.
2. These students will be registered for an audition time, just as other instrumentalists at the Senior Auditions at King Philip Regional High School.  For this audition, 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 meet the composition adjudicators at the registration desk or go right to the library and wait outside until called by the adjudicator.  At the festival clinic, upon arrival, students should follow the signs to the clinic room.
4. Students may double register for either or both composition tracks as well as an instrument.
5. Students that double register should plan to audition on their instrument first before doing any composition adjudications.
6. Clinics will be at the senior festival; 3:30 – 5:00 for the electronic composition clinic and 5:00 – 6:00 for the composition clinic.  Students that are not in a performing ensemble will need to arrange transportation from a parent or guardian to and from the clinics.  Students in a performing ensemble will need to arrange a ride home if they are attending the composition clinic.  Students in a performing ensemble that are attending the electronic music clinic should be able to be dismissed early from their rehearsal to attend the second half of the clinic.
7. Student composition award recipients will be asked to attend the awards ceremony before the concert to receive their awards.    

For more information contact

Pictures