Young Composers Competition
2008-2009 Young Composers Competition
Winners Announced
by Bob Frampton, NJMEA President
future participation, and encourage their
T
he winners of the first NJMEA
Young Composers Competition
students in the area of composition.
were announced during a fea-
Applications and competition details can be
tured session at the State Conference in
downloaded from
njmea.org. If you should
February. Noted New Jersey composer, Bruce
have any questions about the competition
Yurko, provided a short critique and some
or the process, please contact one of the
helpful hints for the young composers in atten-
committee members: Patrick Burns at
dance. Six compositions were submitted for
Montclair University and the Caldwell-
the 2008-2009 competition and ranged from
West Caldwell Schools; Andrew Lesser at
string quartet to full orchestra. Yurko indicated
Lindenwold High School; Douglas
that each of the compositions was unique and
Laustsen at the Academy of Performing Arts
represented individual styles. He was very
Left to right:
in Paterson; and Jeff Bradbury at North
impressed with the work of the young com-
Michael Cook & Jonathan Evers
Brunswick High School. These committee
posers, complimented them on their work and
members are dedicated to the future of the
ciate Soundtree’s continued support of all
encouraged them to continue to compose. He
NJMEA Young Composers project.
NJMEA programs and activities.
provided some personal insights based on his
early years as a young composer and helpful
hints about the composition process, gleaned
through his many years as an active composer.
The winning composers were present-
ed with framed certificates, naming them
and their compositions, along with a copy
of Sibelius notation software. Jonathan
Evers, a junior from Jefferson Township
High School and a student of James
Wynne, won for his piano trio composition,
“Blessé. Op. 1.” Manasquan High School
sophomore, Michael Cook, a student of
Alan Abraham, also won for his full orches-
tra composition, “As We Look to the
Heavens.” Those in attendance at the ses-
sion were treated to recordings of the com-
Four Student Composers Attending The Ceremony (Left to right)
positions, and were understandably
Emily Fusco (E. Brunswick HS); Michael Cook (Manasquan HS);
impressed by the tremendous talent demon- Jonathan Evers (Jefferson Twp. HS); and Connor Jones (Belvidere HS)
strated by all of the student composers. Our
sincere thanks to Jim Frankel and
Soundtree for their generous contribution
Our congratulations to all of the stu-
of the Sibelius software to our first compo-
dents and NJMEA member teachers that
sition contest winners. The students were
took part in this first competition. The ses-
&
very excited to be presented with such a
sion concluded with distribution of applica-
meaningful prize, and it is hoped that the
tions and contest criteria for the 2009-2010
software will inspire them to create even
competition. We hope that music teachers
more outstanding compositions. We appre-
from throughout the state will consider
MAY 2009 57 TEMPO
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