- The 2025-2026 Student Composition Project will take place as a feedback only program, with exemplary compositions nominated and selected by the evaluators after the Spring deadline.
- Compositions will be nominated based on three divisions: High School, Middle School, and Intermediate School (Grades 4-6)
- Step 1. Nomination
After the Spring deadline, evaluators have an opportunity to nominate students whose composition was truly exceptional – beyond what is typically expected for this division. - Step 2. Final Selection
After the nomination process, evaluators will select the most exceptional compositions to receive the Exemplary Composition Award from among those nominated.
- Step 1. Nomination
- Nominated students will receive recognition on the WSMA website.
- Recipients of the Exemplary Composition Award will receive a mailed certificate, as well as recognition on the WSMA website.
- There is no limit to the number of submissions, but each composition/arrangement must be submitted separately.
- 2025-2026 Student Composition Categories
- A score is required for all notated categories.
- An audio recording of the composition is required for all submissions and can be live or midi.
- Lyric sheets are required for audio only compositions with lyrics.
- A short written description of the composition is requested for the evaluator.
- For non-notated categories, students must include whether or not the composition is intended to be performed live by the corresponding instruments.
- General Composition Guidelines
- Evaluators use the following forms when providing written feedback:
- Deadlines
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- Compositions must be submitted through the Student Composition Form by Friday, December 19, 2025 for the Fall deadline or Wednesday, April 17, 2026 for the Spring deadline.
- Written feedback from the evaluators will be returned to the director/student within six weeks from the submission deadline.
