The Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta recently concluded its inaugural Composition Competition for the 2022-2023 season. Announced in October 2022, MTS invited composers throughout Middle Tennessee to submit their original, unperformed pieces within three categories: Young Composers (ages 13-17), Collegiate Composers (ages 18-22), and Advanced Composers (23 and above).
Each composition was carefully and anonymously reviewed by a panel consisting of MTS Staff Members and professional composer Rick DeJonge. A winning piece for each category was then chosen, and all applicants were given the opportunity to receive the comments and critiques from each of the judges.
The winners of each category will receive a world premiere of their piece by the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta, an audio and video recording of their piece, and a cash prize. After an overwhelming amount of submissions, MTS was also able to award an honorable mention for each category, which included a small cash prize.
The winners of the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta’s 2023 Composition Competition are:
Starlight by Jonas Marshall (Young Composers Category);
Dances with Clouds by Donavon Hamlett (Collegiate Composers Category); and
A Magnolia Fantasy by Christopher Lowry (Advanced Composers Category).
Click on a picture below to see a larger image. Images courtesy the MT Sinfonietta.
The three winning compositions will be premiered at MTS’ upcoming concert entitled “From the New World” on May 13, 2023 at MTSU School of Music’s Hinton Hall, alongside Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9. Admission is free and open to the public.
Banner image credit: unsplash.com/@sigmund
The 2023 Composition Competition and Concert are sponsored in part by the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Interested composers in the Middle Tennessee area are encouraged to submit their works for the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta’s 2024 Composition Competition, which will open in the fall of 2023. More details will be posted on MTS’ website, mtsinfonietta.com, once they are available.
