Breaking Records With Student Compositions The NJMEA Young Composerts Composition Competition Robert Frampton NJMEA & Eastern Division Past President rtframpton@comcast.net
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he 2018-2019 NJMEA Young Composers Composition Competition saw a record number of entries this year and reflects the soaring interest in music composition and songwriting among New Jersey music students. Four Finalists were invited to the 2019 State Conference in East Brunswick and participated in an outstanding critique session presented by internationally acclaimed composer, Patrick Burns from Montclair University. The competition, initiated in 2008-2009, has received over 175 composition submissions from both middle and high school students over the life of the program. The compositions represent works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles of various instrumentation, vocal ensembles, jazz ensembles, string ensembles, bands and full symphony orchestra. As expected, the students demonstrated exceptional creativity, musicality and technical skills. The middle school finalist this year, Aadhitya Raam Ashok from John Adams Middle School, made a return trip to the Finalist critique with his composition “The Perils of Esmeralda,” for violin, accordion and piano. Varun Karry from J.P. Stevens High School, was a first-time Finalist with his poem-based composition for small ensemble, “Hiraeth.” Another returning Finalist, Hayden Marciszewski from Rumson-Fairhaven High School presented his piano work, “Consolation in Gb Major.” The Grand Prize winner, Franklin Hansen from East Brunswick High School, submitted a delightful composition for band titled “Syncopation Circus.” Recordings of these outstanding compositions, as well as finalist compositions from the previous years of the competition are archived on the NJMEA website and available for listening. Patrick Burns, provided detailed feedback for each of the finalists during a two-hour session at the conference that was attended by teachers, family and other conference attendees. The recordings of the compositions were played for the audience and the students were presented with certificates and awards for their successful compositions. MAY 2019
Congratulations to our student composers! We thank their teachers for encouraging their composition efforts sponsoring them for the competition. All New Jersey middle and high school teachers are invited to submit student compositions for the 2019-2020 competition. Application information is posted on the NJMEA website. Deadline for submission is in November. This should give our young composers plenty of time to put their compositions together. The growing interest in student composition is very exciting, but is a huge task for the small committee. If you would like to help promote the growing interest in student composition around the state, please consider joining the committee. Your participation would allow us to expand the program and we would welcome your participation and ideas.
Group Picture (Pictured L to R): Patrick Burns, Montclair University; Middle School Finalist Aadhitya Raam Ashok, John Adams Middle School; Hayden Marciszewski, Rumson-Fairhaven High School; Grand Prize Winner Franklin Hansen, East Brunswick High School; Varun Karry, J. P. Stevens High School; Andrew Lesser, NJMEA Young Composers Composition Competition Committee Member.
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