PHILOSOPHY

The South Carolina Music Teachers Association sponsors a composition competition to encourage and celebrate creativity among the many young students throughout the state, and to give support to the excellent music teachers of South Carolina. Composing invites students to explore and develop their musical skill set and consider what is possible in music. The purpose of the competition is to challenge and inspire students to find out just how creative they can be.

ELIGIBILITY

  • The teacher must be a member in good standing by December 31 of the current membership year to enter students at the member teacher rate. A $75.00 non-member teacher fee will be assessed if the membership is not paid for the current membership year.
  • A student must have studied a minimum of 6 months with the same member teacher prior to auditions, with the exception of incapacitation, relocation, or Sabbatical leave of the regular teacher, in which case both the previous and current teachers will be listed.
  • The teacher, the student, or the place of instruction must be located in South Carolina.

COMPOSITION SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • Any student 26 years old and younger working with a SCMTA member teacher is eligible to enter the competition.
  • The student must be the sole composer of any submitted composition.
  • Students may enter one composition per Composition Category.
  • There are 3 Composition Categories:
    • Solo (1 instrument)
    • Duet-Quartet (2-4 instruments)
    • Quintet-Nonet (5-9 instruments)
  • A composition may be in any style.
  • A composition must be a minimum of 16 measures in length.
  • The performance time of a composition must not exceed 10 minutes.
  • Compositions using extended techniques (i.e. introducing foreign objects into the workings of the piano to change the sound quality, strumming or plucking of strings) are not permitted at the request of competition hosts and piano companies providing instruments.
  • Arrangements of existing music by other composers are not allowed.
  • Any composition fitting within the scope of these guidelines that was completed after April 1 of the previous year may be submitted. A composition does not have to have been composed exclusively for this competition to be submitted.

SCORE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • A PDF Score and Mp3 Audio File are required for submission.
  • The PDF Score can be computer generated using music notation software (ex. Finale, Sibelius, Noteflight, MuseScore, etc.) or neatly hand-written on staff paper and scanned as a PDF.
  • The PDF Score should be printable on 8.5” x 11” letter-sized paper.
  • Cover art should not be included.
  • The composition must include measure numbers, preferably at the beginning of each system.
  • All materials must be labeled with the name of the composition, the name of the student, and the level of the student (Elementary, Junior, Senior, Young Artist).
  • The score must not include teacher name or any reference to school/institution, biography, or picture of student.
  • Each score must be submitted as a single PDF file with the file name as follows: Lastname_Division_Category_Title.pdf
  • A Mp3 Audio File is required for each entry. Live recordings or MIDI/electronic renderings are acceptable.
  • PDF Scores and Mp3 Audio Files should be emailed to the SCMTA Creativity in Music Chair after completing the online registration.
  • No change may be made to the manuscript once it has been submitted with the application.

REGISTRATION

  • All registrations must be submitted on-line at the SCMTA website.
  • Fees by Division (determined by Student’s Age on January 1)
    • Elementary Division (10 years old & under) — $20
    • Junior (11-14 years old) — $25
    • Senior (15-18 years old) — $30
    • Young Artist (19-26 years old) — $35
  • Each individual composition will be charged the applicable Division entry fee.
  • It is the responsibility of the teacher to meet the Chairperson’s deadline, to complete application forms, and to write one check or submit one PayPal payment to cover fees for all his/her students. Failure to complete the application as required will result in the automatic withdrawal of those students in SCMTA Composition Competition. Make checks payable to SCMTA.
  • All entry fees are nonrefundable.

ADJUDICATION

  • There will be a single composition judge.
  • The judge may select a single Winner within each Composition Category within each Division.
  • The judge may also select additional compositions for Runner-Up and/or Honorable Mention.
  • The decisions of the judge are final. Teachers and parents are not allowed to contact judges before or after the competition. Any questions should be addressed to the competition chair.
    Comments sheets will be sent to the teachers after the completion of the competition.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

  • Winners of each composition category within each division will be invited to have their composition performed at the SCMTA Composition Recital.
  • If the Winner of any composition category is unable to coordinate a performance of their composition at the SCMTA Composition Recital, a Honorable Mention selection may be invited to have their composition performed.
  • Winners are responsible for coordinating their own musicians for this recital. Only live performances are permitted.

Contact SCMTA