Composition Festival

male songwriter writing song on blank music sheet

The State Composition Festival is a non-competitive event that provides young composers the opportunity to share their creative accomplishments from beginners to post college age on up. There is no age limit for participants. The Composition Festival is open to any student composer studying with a teacher who is an active member in good standing with OMTA or a non-member who has paid the nonmember fee for the event. Compositions of all musical styles and instrumentation are welcome!

There are two separate requirements for students to participate in the State Festival. Students only need to do one of them:

  1. Students participate at the district level event. At the district level, compositions are adjudicated and the adjudicators recognize students with the most outstanding compositions as Honored Composers. These Honored Composers are invited to participate in the OMTA State Composition Festival.
  2. Students participate in the Young Composers Project (YCP) sponsored by the non-profit organization Fear No Music, directed by Jeff Payne. These students can participate in the State Festival without entering a district event. Check this program out at the following site: https://www.fearnomusic.org/ycp.

For information about your district Composition Festival, contact your district chairperson or check district websites at https://oregonmta.org/membership/local-districts/.

State Online Festival Registration

Deadlines — May 10

  • District Composition Festival Report
  • District Honored Composers List
  • Online Registration (Including: $35 fee, PDF score, and unlisted or public YouTube link)

Virtual Recital — June 1

Compilation of recorded student performances goes live on the OMTA website (below) and YouTube page.

Composition Booklets are included in the $35 online registration fee.

There is also a national student composition competition sponsored by the Music Teachers National Association.

Questions? Contact State Composition Festival Chair Robin Ziari.

District Forms

Forms are in PDF format – readable with the free Adobe Reader.

District Composition Festival Chairperson Checklist
Adjudicator Instructions
Composer Evaluation Form
*District Honored Composers List  (District Chair return to Robin Ziari by May 10)

State Forms

Student Application
District Composition Festival Report (District Chair return to Robin Ziari by May 10)

2025 Composition Festival State Recital

Honored Composers:

  • Annabella Liddell, age 8, student of Dianne Davies, Spy Raven (Piano Solo)
  • Kalynn Hendricks, age 8, student of Sarah Milburn, The Happy Bouncy Ball (Piano Solo)
  • Ricky Lee, age 11, student of Gary Noland, Drained (Ensemble)
  • Eugene Mull, age 11, student of Amy Vanacore, Midnight (Piano Solo)
  • Ellie Westover, age 11, student of Lorraine Alner, The Lullaby of the Sparrow (Piano Solo)
  • Michael Henderson, age 11, student of Robin Ziari, Storm Prelude (Piano Solo)
  • Leif de Szoeke, age 12, student of Sandra Coolen, Freedom World (Piano/Vocal Solo)
  • Addison Kearbey, age 13, student of Ruth Sadilek, Ascent (Orchestral)
  • Vivian Taylor, age 13, student of Ruth Sadilek, Jewell Mandala (Ensemble)
  • Adeline Friberg, age 14, student of Tanya Stoyanovic, The Oregon Coast (Ensemble)
  • Adelynn Williams, age 16, student of Dianne Davies, Grasping Straws (Piano Solo)
  • Alex Tran, age 16, student of Ruth Sadilek, A lot of Things Happen in April (Ensemble)
  • Noah Lowen, age 16, student of Paul Safar, Hommagé à Ravel (Piano Solo)
  • Samara D’Souza, age 16, student of Heidi Evans, Whispering Wraith Dance (Piano Solo)
  • Jasper Gillispie, age 17, student of Matt Katz, Said Moth to a Lantern (Ensemble)
  • James Lee, age 17, student of Jennifer Wright, Breath of the Prairie (Ensemble)
  • Maxwell Evans-McGlothin, age 17, student of Ryan Francis, The Hunting Murder (Ensemble)
  • Corinna Lobscheid, age 17, student of Sandra Coolen, Reflection (Piano Solo)
  • Amaia Arismendi, age 17, student of Lucy Watts, Bittersweet April (Piano Solo)
  • Uriah Legutki, age 17, student of Charlotte Pierce, Dinner Music (Piano Solo)
  • Zoey Griffith, age 17, student of Sarah Milburn, Somber Rain (Piano Solo)
  • Lex Kornelis, age 18, student of Nancy Stone, Broken Dance (Ensemble)
  • Lydia Sauble, age 21, student of Jill Gamble, Prelude No. 1 (Piano Solo)

Each honored composer is eligible to apply for the Regional Composition Celebration which then in turn recommends students to the National Composition Competition.