SEMMEA Composition Competition 2024

Welcome to the South Eastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association Composition Competition 2024. Thank you to all the students who submitted music this year and their directors.
We are happy to announce this year’s winners.

Composition
“Flower Garden Symphony”– for Symphony Orchestra
Michael D’Espinosa – Attleboro High School
“The Long Forgotten Road”– for Symphony Orchestra
Kyle Ducharme – Taunton High School
Electronic
“Foggy Morning” – written using Ableton Lite
Silver Duhamel – Bridgewater-Raynham High School  
Songwriting
“All Alone On Christmas” – Piano and Vocals
Ashley Stracco – Hanover High School

We had a great clinic this year with Dr. Corey K. Rubin from Cleveland State University and Adam Grushow from Scituate High School.

The goal of the SEMMEA composition competition is 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 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.
3. Materials can be submitted to the adjudicator through email, USB drive, or shared with Google Drive (or other shareable cloud/online storage).  Materials can be shared early, but students must still attend the auditions in person.  It is also helpful if students bring their visual media (scores/screenshots) in hardcopy to the auditions and also have a digital copy to submit with their audio.
4. All submissions must be original works created by the students. Collaborations are accepted, however, both students must pay the registration fee.
5. 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.
6. 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.  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 wait in the library and wait to be called by the adjudicator.
4. Students may double register for either or both composition tracks as well as an instrumental.
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

Pictures