ORMTA Music Writing Competition - The Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association

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Applications are now closed. The deadline to apply was March 15, 2023 at 11:59PM. No late entries will be accepted.

Students of ORMTA members in good standing are invited to submit their compositions to the ORMTA Music Writing Competition. Students receive helpful written feedback from a knowledgeable adjudicator. Students awarded first, second or third place in various classes based on age and genre are awarded scholarships.

The first place winner of the Open Class will receive the Eleanor Marzetti Scholarship, named in honour of one of ORMTA's distinguished past provincial presidents.

First place winners of various classes will have part of their score published in a future issue of NOTES Magazine and will represent Ontario in the CFMTA (Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Associations) National Student Composer Competition.

For more information, please email ORMTA's Music Writing Competition Convener, Olivia Riddell.

Classes

Rules & Regulations

2023 Adjudicator

Class P1

8 years and under
Fee: $25

An original composition for solo instrument or any combination of instruments. Music must be composed entirely by the child, but may be scored by an adult.

Class P2

8 years and under
Fee: $25

An original composition for voice(s) with or without accompaniment. Music must be composed entirely by the child, but may be scored by an adult.

Class A1

11 years and under
Fee: $30

An original composition for solo instrument or any combination of instruments. Music must be composed entirely by the child, but may be scored by an adult.

Class A2

11 years and under
Fee: $30

An original composition for voice(s) with or without accompaniment. Music must be composed entirely by the child, but may be scored by an adult.

Class B1

15 years and under
Fee: $35

An original composition for solo instrument or any combination of instruments. Music must be composed and scored entirely by the student.

Class B2

15 years and under
Fee: $35

An original composition for voice(s) with or without accompaniment. Music must be composed and scored entirely by the student.

Class C

19 years and under
Fee: $40

An original composition for any instrument or combination of instruments, voice(s) or combination of voice(s) and instrument with accompaniment when accompaniment is required for performance. Music must be composed and scored entirely by the student.

Class D

Open
Fee: $45

An original composition for any instrument or combination of instruments, or voice(s) or combination of voice(s) and instruments with accompaniment when accompaniment is required for performance. Music must be composed and scored entirely by the student.

2023 Rules & Regulations

Entry Requirements

The contestant must be eligible in his/her age group as of June 1, 2023.
Competitors may only submit entries in the categories listed above.
A student may enter more than one composition and more than one class, but may only receive one prize per class.
A student shall not submit a single composition in more than one class. However, a re-orchestration of a previously submitted composition is acceptable.
Each entry is assumed to be the original work of the individual whose name appears on the entry form attached to the manuscript. Any infraction of this regulation will result in nullification of the offending entry.
An entry fee is required to enter the competition. Please refer to the entry form for fees per class. When paying, please make it clear the name of the student entrant the fee is for.
Entries must be received no later than March 15, 2023 at 11:59:59pm ET. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Composition Requirements

Neither the student’s name nor teacher’s name must appear on the composition.
Scores should include all necessary details of dynamics, editing and tempi, with the first bar of every system numbered.
All scores must be sent in .pdf format. Scores may be computer generated or handwritten neatly and legibly.
Please name files with class entered and student's name, as follows: P1_Johnny Smith_The Lake.pdf or P1_Johnny Smith_The Lake.mp3.
A recording of the composition (.mp3 format) MUST be included for compositions longer than four pages.
A recording of the composition (.mp3 format) MAY be included for shorter compositions if desired.

Teacher Approval

Teachers must email the convener a list of students entered and the titles of their scores, stating that they approve of their students' submission(s). Simply checking the box on the submission form is, unfortunately, inadequate.
Students can only submit compositions that have been approved by their teacher, who must be an ORMTA member in good standing. If a student submits a work that is later rejected by their teacher, then the composition will not be included in the competition and the application fee will not be refunded.

Results

The adjudicator’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into after final judging. The composition which receives the highest mark in each class will advance to the National level.
All rights to his/her original work will be retained by the competitor, but winning compositions may be displayed or employed by ORMTA and CFMTA for publicity purposes.
All entrants who move after June 1, 2023 must advise the ORMTA Music Writing Competition Convener of their change of address, including postal code.
All competitors will receive a written adjudication of their work(s).

Qualification

Only first place winning manuscripts at the provincial level will be forwarded to CFMTA for national adjudication (which takes place after June 1, 2023).
Winning entries will have the entry fee for the CFMTA Student Composer Competition covered by ORMTA.

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE FINAL. PLEASE CHECK YOUR WORK CAREFULLY. NO RE-SUBMISSIONS DUE TO EDITING OR CORRECTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Dr. Sean Kim

Born in Korea, and raised in Toronto, Sean studied piano with late Peter Longworth at the Royal Conservatory of Music before attending Western University to complete his Bachelor’s (2001) and Master's (2003) degrees in composition. While at Western, Sean studied piano with John-Paul Bracey and Gwen Beamish, harpsichord/organ and early music with Drs. Sandra Mangsen and Richard Semmens, composition with Drs. Peter Paul Koprowski and Omar Daniel, and orchestral/instrumental conducting with Jerome Summers and Dr. Colleen Richardson. In 2016, Sean completed his Ph.D. in composition under the guidance of Dr. Paul Frehner. Sean’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by various ensembles including Lakehead Choral Group, Dulcisono, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra, Blyth Festival Orchestra, Korean-Canadian Symphony Orchestra, Brassroots, London Singers, SoundStreams, Ensemble Transmission, and Aventa Ensemble, and by various soloists in Canada, Spain, and South Korea. He was awarded a two-week residency on Porphyry Island in August 2019 to be the artist in residence to compose his heart's content.

Currently, Sean teaches conducting and organ at Lakehead University, serves St. Paul’s Anglican Church as a music director, and as an examiner for Conservatory Canada in theoretical studies. In addition, he serves as an accompanist for St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church, Lakehead Choral Group, and Lakehead University Vocal Ensemble. When he is not busy, Sean loves sailing on Lake Superior with his wife and four children.