Composition CompetitionThe IMEA Composition Competition is an annual competition that offers young Indiana composers (grades six through college) the opportunity to have their work evaluated by established composers/educators who provide written feedback. This event is designed to help these young composers learn and grow as creative musical thinkers. The winning composers are recognized at the Professional Conference in January. 2024 Gold Rating RecipientsName: David Akinwole Composition Title: “Shioreta Sakura” Sample of Composition: Recording Excerpt Division: 2024 Middle School Division, Arranging School: Plainfield Community Middle School Teacher: Erika Stepp Bio: I was inspired to compose when I got an opportunity to have my music played by professionals. TwoSet Violin (my favorite YouTube channel back then) made a video about fan compositions, and they played a couple. So, in hopes of submitting mine to be played, I went to Noteflight to make the 'very' original idea that each season would have its theme and development (to my disappointment, Vivaldi had the same idea about 300 years before me). I composed many pieces, from video game music to full orchestra pieces, some played by my school band. I’ve never studied formally but have had sessions with a professional composer, Benjamin Dean Taylor, and the school music directors. About the Piece: Shioreta Sakura, meaning wilting cherry blossoms, tells the story of an older woman in Japan and her dear Japanese cherry blossom tree that has weathered the ages with her. Still, its time had come, and it would be cut down. (This is inspired by Japan's plan to give 250 Sakura trees to Washington DC after they remove them.) She weeps at the roots of this tree, and the town watches in pity. She reminisces on the joy they brought her as a child, reliving the bittersweet memories in the change of key at measures 29-33. Still, she returns to her morose state at 34-40, but only shortly. Her spirits lift as she imagines what the seeds of the cherry blossom can give other children around the world. Based on the folk song Sakura, this song will put on a show for your audience! Name: Samuel Strawhacker Composition Title: “Nocturne No. 1” Sample of Composition: Recording Excerpt Division: 2024 Middle School Division, Instrumental Solo School: Fishers Junior High School Teacher: Amanda Cornet Bio: Samuel Strawhacker is a 13-year-old cellist who lives in Fishers, Indiana. He enjoys playing in the school orchestra led by teacher Amanda Cornet and in the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra. He will be attending Fishers High School in the fall and looks forward to continuing orchestra and music composition. About the Piece: Nocturne No. 1 in A Minor was inspired by the thawing out of winter. It is to be reminiscent of a spring day as leaves unfurl and the dark days of winter give rise to the light and the sounds of nature lifting the moods of those who have been awaiting spring's return. Name: Milo Savage Composition Title: “The Seas” Sample of Composition: Recording Excerpt Division: 2024 High School Division, Chamber School: Fishers High School Teacher: Julie Armey Bio: Music has been part of Milo's life from a very young age. Both of his parents are musicians, so he grew up listening to orchestras and being part of a middle school orchestra playing cello when he was young. During 6th grade, he switched to the bass, and has played in the High School All-State, the ISO side-by-side, the symphony orchestra in IYO, and the top orchestra of his high school as a freshman. He has been composing since 8th grade and spends most of his free time composing and practicing. Outside of music, he enjoys camping and other outdoor activities. About the Piece: The Seas is a piece for chamber orchestra with a very interesting orchestration. The piece, consisting of 8 very short movements, details the journey of sailors throughout the seas. It is part of a larger 4 movement work titled "The Elements". Each movement features a different tempo and aspect of the seas, and uses the strange instrumentation of strings with tuba, 2 horns, and a clarinet to its advantage to create sounds often associated with the seas. Name: Jasper Wright Composition Title: “Caderas Suaves” Sample of Composition: Recording Excerpt Division: 2024 High School Division, Jazz Band School: New Castle High School Teacher: Jonathon Edwards Bio: Jasper Wright is a senior at New Castle High School. He began his musical journey in the 7th grade. His first instrument was the bassoon, but he later learned how to play the guitar, tenor saxophone, and vibraphone. Wright performs funk music around the community of New Castle. Along with performing, he also developed a love for composing. Wright has composed and arranged several jazz pieces for the New Castle High School Jazz Ensemble and has recently been hired to arrange the music for the New Castle Dynamiques show choir. About the Piece: Caderas Suaves is a latin jazz tune that focuses heavily on a catchy guitar motif. Throughout the piece there are several hits, a sax soli section, and an extended solo section. The score contains further description of how the piece should be performed. Name: Courage Barda Composition Title: “Blueberry Dreams” Sample of Composition: Recording Excerpt Division: 2024 Collegiate Division, Vocal Choir School: Indiana University Teacher: Joyce Click Bio: Courage Barda's work combines visual media, choreographed and improvised movement, stream of consciousness prose, and experimental vocalism to create worlds of whimsy, distress, and introspection. Courage's compositions center around their own lived experiences, covering sensitive subjects such as disability, identity, spirituality, and sexuality. Courage's music has been performed by Indiana University's contemporary vocal ensemble NOTUS, the Choral Arts Initiative, the International Brazilian Opera Company, and Hub New Music. Courage is pursuing degrees in Composition and Historical Performance (Voice) at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. They study composition with Han Lash and voice with Judith Malafronte. About the Piece: When I sat down to begin this composition, I wasn't quite sure what directions the text and the music would go. I wanted to compose something that was meaningful and heartfelt, but not quite as vulnerable or intense as many of my other compositions. I wrote this last summer, and I felt the need to compose something that would remind me of summer during the colder, darker months. As I thought of what might accomplish this, I sat on my porch and ate blueberries. Ah, yes! this is summer to me. It's eating fruit; it's spending time with animals and people I care about; it's finding more time for relaxing than is usually available. The text for "Blueberry Dreams" is from the perspective of someone who misses their grandmother, of whom they have memories of picking and making food products with blueberries. It's funny how even blueberries - something so small - can make a big difference in how we remember someone. While this person's grandmother is gone, they will always have the memory of her, which comes around when they see blueberries. Name: Leo Schunn Composition Title: “Glacial - I. Snowcapped” Sample of Composition: Recording Excerpt Division: 2024 Collegiate Division, Full Orchestra School: Ball State University Teacher: Dr. Ann Hicks Bio: Leo Schunn is a Music Education major at Ball State University. He taught himself piano when he was 7 years old in order to learn his favorite video game tunes but has now completed an indie video game soundtrack of his own. He inspires to profess music theory but writing percussion ensemble shows and composing soundtracks defines his ambitions. His works are most inspired by composers such as Debussy and Ravel, often focused on evoking imagery while transporting the listener to unfamiliar experiences. About the Piece: Glacial is a multi-movement work which tells the story of an adventurer embarking into and across an unfamiliar land of snow, ice, and crystals. The first movement follows the ascent of a lethal mountain, shrouded in fog and everlasting snowfall. Once the adventurer triumphs the mountain, the breathtaking landscape of a wintry paradise is revealed. The second movement is currently in development, exploring the adventurer's struggle to cross a seemingly endless lake of ice.
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