Guidelines for Submission

The composition should be no longer than 15 minutes in length. 

The composition should utilize the generally accepted wind band/ensemble instrumentation as seen below. Composers may use other instruments not necessarily listed, but should consider providing cues for any solo parts.  

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• Flutes (Up to 5 players: Option to use 1 piccolo, and/or 1 Alto Flute and/or 1 Bass Flute as part of the 5)

• Oboes (Up to 2 players: recommended to provide optional cues for any solo parts)

• Bassoons (Up to 2 players: recommended to provide optional cues for any solo parts)

• Clarinets (Up to 8 players: Option to use 1 E-flat soprano, and/or 1 B-flat bass clarinet as part of the 8)

• Saxophones (Up to 5 players: SAATB, SATB, or AATB)

• Trumpets (Up to 6 players)

• Horns (Up to 4 players)

• Trombones (Up to 4 players including the use of 1 Bass Trombone)

• Euphoniums (Up to 2 players)

• Tuba (Up to 2 players)

• String Bass (1 player)

• Piano (recommended to be an optional addition with all solo lines cued in other parts)

• Percussion (Up to 6 players: Standard instrumentation includes - Timpani, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Cymbals, Marimba (5 Octave), Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Chimes, Crotales, and Auxiliary. Applicants may ask for other available instruments.)

Applicants should adhere to the following guidelines when submitting their work for consideration.

• Submission are due on September 1

• Each applicant may only submit one work for consideration.

• Submitted compositions must meet the guidelines as listed above.

• Submitted compositions must be wholly original, unperformed, unpublished pieces. An unperformed work counts as a piece that has never received a public concert premiere.

• Compositions requiring amplification, electronics, tape, computer, or CD are not eligible.

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The composer may be asked for a full set of parts if their piece is selected as a finalist. Materials should be able to be downloaded and printed. Composers retain all rights to their materials, but once submitted, if selected as a winner, the composer grants permission for their piece to be performed and recorded as part of the Young Composer Initiative.

Applicants should adhere to the following guidelines when submitting materials for consideration.

• Score - Applicants should submit a fully finished score in .pdf format

• Recording - Applicants should submit an audio recording of a reading session or MIDI/Computer realization of their composition in .mp3 format.