CMEA STUDENT COMPOSITION FESTIVAL

The CMEA Composition Festival is open to all students in grades 4-12. To participate in the program, the student's teacher must be a member of CMEA and must submit a registration form along with a check for $15 to CMEA by March 15, 2011. This form will indicate their student's intent to submit a composition and provide the student with access to CTComp.org. This registration form and check can be submitted at any time before March 15, 2011. Teachers are encouraged to do this early to give their students the benefits of access to the CTComp.org website. Further information about this process will be posted on the CMEA website (CMEA.org).

All compositions must be completed and submitted to CTComp.org by May 15, 2011. A panel of professional composer/educators will review the compositions that are submitted and students will be notified if their piece has been selected for performance by June 15, 2011. The actual Composition Festival will not occur until the following year at the 2012 CMEA Conference.

All students who register by the March 15th deadline will be able to participate in a series of workshops at the CMEA conference on Thursday, April 7, 2011. These will include sessions with professional composer/educators, special sessions on using the CTComp.org website, and individual help on their own work in progress. Although not required in order to submit a piece, students are encouraged to attend these workshops

The following are the types of compositions that are eligible. We are striving for the inclusion of all styles of music as well as participation from all levels - elementary school (grades 4 - 6), middle school (7 - 8), and high school (9 - 12).

• Songwriting (solo voice with instrumental accompaniment in all styles, including jazz, folk, pop, hip hop, classical, etc.).
• Electronic Music (fixed media specifically written for recorded playback, may include dance or video)
• Solo (unaccompanied)
• Small Instrumental Ensemble (including string, woodwind, brass, percussion, mixed ensembles)
• Large Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Jazz Band)

If you have any questions about the process or procedures for the festival or if you would like to help with any of the festival activities, you can visit the CMEA website or contact Richard Wells, Composition Festival Chair at rwells@simsbury.k12.ct.us.

Review of important dates:

March 15 - CMEA Student Composition Application due indicating the intent to submit a composition
April 7 - CMEA Conference workshops for teachers and students
May 15 - CMEA Student Compositions Due (CTComp.org)
June 15 - CMEA Student Compositions selected for performance at the 2012 CMEA Conference