Please read the Rules, Requirements, Deadline, Selection and Prize information below, before submitting your application!
Questions or concerns? Please email:
compositioncontestpswinds@gmail.com
Rules
- Contest open to all composers of any age, except members of the Pennsylvania Symphonic Winds (PSW), or relatives of PSW members
- Composer must not be a past winner / honorable mention recipient of previous PSW Contests over the past 3 years
- Composition must be the composer’s original work (no arrangements permitted)
- Composition must be at least 5 minutes in length, not to exceed 10 minutes
- Composition must be at the Grade III, Grade IV, or Grade V level in difficulty
- Required instrumentation (you must adhere to the numbers of parts in parentheses below):
- Piccolo (optional)
- Flute (2 parts)
- Oboe (1 or 2 parts)
- Bassoon (1 or 2 parts)
- Eb Soprano Clarinet (optional)
- Clarinet (3 parts)
- Eb Alto Clarinet (optional)
- Bass Clarinet
- Soprano Saxophone (optional)
- Alto Saxophone (2 parts; 1 part if using soprano saxophone)
- Tenor Saxophone
- Baritone Saxophone
- Trumpet (3 parts)
- Horn (4 parts)
- Trombone (3 parts)
- Euphonium (divisi allowable)
- Tuba (divisi allowable)
- Percussion (3-5 parts)
Submission Requirements
- Completion of the online contest entry form (click the link in the box above)
- A full score* in PDF format
- A recording* in MP3 format (notation software audio renderings are acceptable)
- *as this is a blind contest, please do not include your name on or within either the PDF or MP3
- An entry fee of $25** (this helps to offset the cash prize for the winning composer(s) and support the PSW’s mission as a band member-supported 501(c)(3) organization)
- ** fee can be waived for composers demonstrating financial need
Deadline
Entries are due: Monday, 25 January 2027
Selection
- Entries will be judged by a panel of musicians from within the Pennsylvania Symphonic Winds
- The panel will select a winner from the submissions that are received
Prize
- The Pennsylvania Symphonic Winds will perform the winning composition in the Spring of 2027
- The winning composer will also be awarded a cash prize of $500
- Depending on the pool of applicants, additional prizes may be awarded at the judges’ discretion