Division Information | Composition Competition Guidelines

SECONDARY GENERAL MUSIC DIVISION

COMPOSITION COMPETITION GUIDELINES - 2008 

General Rules

1. Any 9th-12th grade student (including 2008 graduates) is eligible to enter the competition; the entry must be composed in the calendar year of the given competition.

2. Each student may enter only one composition in each of the categories; but students may enter as many categories as they desire.

3. Each entry must be accompanied by (1) an entry form and (2) a $10 fee payment.

4. All compositions should have a title or opus number.

5. A recording (CD preferred or cassette tape) of the composition must accompany each entry.  With the exception of the Avante Garde/Electronic category, recordings should be performed on the appropriate voices or instruments rather than computer-generated sounds whenever possible.

6. A legible score must accompany all but the avant garde/electronic and jazz improvisation entries.

7. All measures must be numbered in the score.

8. The scores should bear only the title and the student ID number (a school-assigned number or a social security number).  No names should appear on the score for all entries are judged anonymously.

9. All recordings, scores, and entry forms must be postmarked on or before November 1, 2008 . The Division Vice-President has the authority to refuse any entries postmarked after the deadline.

10. All materials submitted will be kept by IMEA. No materials will be returned to the student. IMEA reserves the right to use student comositions for publicity and/or display of exemplary work.  This use may include an audio file of the composition included on an official IMEA compilation recording, and a posting of an audio file of the composition on the IMEA website for a period of one year.

11. Winners will be notified on or before December 1 (based on timing of results generated by the adjudication panel). Several winning compositions will be invited for performance during the Awards Ceremony at the IMEA All-State Conference. If selected for performance, a winning composition must be presented in its original form without additions or changes. Large ensemble winning compositions may be considered for performance by an All-State ensemble or guest ensemble in a subsequent year.

Categories

• Arranging - an original arrangement based upon pre-existing materials.

• Avant Garde/Electronic - modern, non-traditional composition (no score required).

• Commercial/Pop - vocal or instrumental music written for a commercial purpose, e.g. film music, jingles, pop songs.

• Instrumental (solo to chamber ensemble) - instrumental solos and chamber music.

• Instrumental (large ensemble) - music written for band or orchestra, including concertos.

• Jazz Improvisation - solo improvisation which may be backed by rhythm section (no score required)

• Jazz Instrumental/Jazz Vocal - original jazz composition for instrumentalists or vocalists.

• Keyboard Solo (piano, organ, synthesizer) - composition for solo keyboard.

• Vocal Solo - solo vocal work, accompanied or unaccompanied.

• Vocal Ensemble - composition for a group of voices, accompanied or unaccompanied.

Illinois Music Educators Association / 18700 Wolf Road, Suite 208 / Mokena, IL 60448-8603
Telephone: (708)479-4000 / Fax: (708)479-5638 / stateoffice@ilmea.org