Composition Contests

William D. Revelli Composition Contest

A special thank you to Jupiter Instruments for their $5,000 sponsorship of this composition contest.

The William D. Revelli Composition Contest has awarded prizes since 1977. It is named after Dr. William Revelli, who served as Director of Bands at the University of Michigan for 36 years, and served as NBA President from 1976-78. It is the desire of the National Band Association that the winning compositions from this contest reflect its mission in helping further the cause of quality literature for bands in America. Additionally, works chosen as winners should be those not only of significant structural, analytical, and technical quality, but also of such nature that will allow bands to program them as part of their standard repertoire. As a result, a glance through our list of past winners will reveal some very familiar names.

Each year the contest receives approximately 50-80 entries from all over the world. Entries range in scope and quality and are from new to well established veteran composers.  During the evaluation process, entries are narrowed down to a select number of finalists, which are brought to Chicago each December during the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. There, a panel of leading public school, university, and military band directors meets to determine a winner. It is the policy of this committee to announce the winner only. No runners up are announced.

2017 Revelli Composition Contest Application

2016 Contest Winner: Philip Sparke

Each year, the NBA William D. Revelli Memorial Composition Contest Committee gathers at the Midwest Conference to select the piece they believe best reflects the mission to help further the cause of quality literature for bands in America.  The 2016 winner is Philip Sparke with his A Colour Symphony.  For more on the work, click here.  For more information on Philip Sparke, visit his website.

Previous Winners of the NBA/William D. Revelli Composition Contest

Merrill Jones Young Band Composition Contest

The NBA/Merrill Jones Memorial Young Composer Band Composition Contest was established in 1991 as a memorial to Merrill Jones, co-owner of Wingert-Jones Music Company, by his widow, Priscilla Jones. Mr. Jones  was concerned always with helping the young composer. NBA past president Robert (Bob) Foster suggested a young composer contest, which would promote works for young bands. The result was a contest for composers under 40 years of age to be held every other year, now in the even numbered years, and which would produce works for concert band in the Grade 3-4 category.

Works must not exceed eight (8) minutes in length, must be the original work of the composer, and not be under contract to any publisher. Deadline for submission is November 1st. The contest is held every two years unless no winner is chosen. Wingert-Jones reserves the right of first refusal for publication. The current prize to the winner is $2000. The winner is announced at the NBA General Membership Meeting at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago following a meeting of the contest committee. The contest committed is chaired by NBA member Dennis Zeisler.

2018 Merrill Jones Contest Application (not available yet)

2016 Contest Winner: Joshua Hummel

Joshua Hummel of Bloomfield, Connecticut is the 2016 winner of the NBA/Merrill Jones Composition Contest. Mr. Hummel’s winning composition is entitled Fanfare for the Appalachians: I-77.  He writes about his work: “I-77 weaves through the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. In the early mornings the Great Smokies are shrouded in a thick mist, and in the autumn the mountains are bursting with color. It’s a stunning drive, loads of fun. A destination road if ever there was one.”

Hummel loves being creative and loves to inspire people to secure a brighter future by using the arts to help them enrich their lifestyles, environments and attitudes. He  owns an award-winning composition studio in Connecticut, and his music has been performed in Carnegie Hall and throughout the US, as well as Paris, Croatia, Perugia, Rome, London and Moscow. Hummel holds an M.A. in Theatre and a MMus. in Composition and has studied with professors from the Hartt School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory and Juilliard. Other composition awards include nine choral awards, the Frederick Fennell Prize and the Leonard Bernstein Award.

To hear a recording of Fanfare for the Appalachians: I-77, and for more information on Joshua Hummel and his music, visit his website.

Contest Selection Committee

• Chair: Dennis Zeisler, Old Dominion University (VA)
• Lt. Kelly Cartwright, U.S. Pacific Fleet Band (HI)
• A.G. “Mack” McGrannahan, retired (NV)
• Nan Moore, Male High School (KY)
• Mike Oare, Great Bridge Middle School (VA)
• Scott Pierson, Yelm High School (WA)
• Paul Popiel, University of Kansas (KS)
• Mickey Stisher, LaPorte High School (IN)
• Scott Weiss, University of South Carolina (SC)

Previous Winners of the NBA/Merrill Jones Composition Contest

NBA Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest

Cassio Vianna Wins NBA’s Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest for 2016

April Song by Cassio Vianna is the NBA Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest winner for 2016.  This original work will be performed by the United States Army Field Band’s Jazz Ambassadors, directed by Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Wood, at the 2016 Midwest Clinic.  The performance will take place on Thursday, December 15, 7:30 PM, Chicago at McCormick Place.  Brian Logan, NBA Jazz Composition Contest Chair, calls Vianna’s April Song “terrific.”

Cassio Vianna is a composer, pianist, arranger, and educator whose work reflects the broad range of musical and cultural influences he has received during his years of training. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vianna started his music studies in classical music, while developing his skills as a composer and interpreter of popular music and Brazilian jazz.

Vianna holds a bachelor’s degree in Brazilian Popular Music from Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and a master’s degree in Contemporary Music from Western Oregon University, where he studied with Dr. Kevin Walczyk. After holding a music faculty position at Western Oregon University for three years, Vianna is now a doctoral student in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Northern Colorado, where he is also a teaching assistant. Currently, Vianna studies classical composition under Dr. Paul Elwood, and jazz composition under professor David Caffey. Vianna’s compositional styles range from popular music and Brazilian jazz to classical chamber music and works for large jazz ensembles. His works for jazz big band are published by UNC Jazz Press.  Vianna is a BMI composer, and a member of both the Jazz Education Network, and the Society of Composers, Inc.

Listen to his music at www.cassiovianna.com

Previous Winners
2011:    Susumu Watanabe – Duodecim
2012:    Brendon McMullin – Sal y Pimienta
2013:    David von Kampen – Hodie Christus Natus Est
2014:    Sean Nelson – Every Possible History of the Universe
2015:    Jessika Smith –Cyan Thread

2017 NBA Jazz Composition Contest Application

Have a question?  Nee more Information?
Email Brian Logan, Jazz Composition Contest Chair

Alfred Publishing Young Band Composition Contest

Sponsored by Alfred Publishing

The NBA/Alfred Publishing Young Band Composition Contest is sponsored by Alfred Publishing.  Special thanks to composer and music educator Robert Sheldon for his support and guidance in establishing this special partnership with the National Band Association.  This young band contest seeks to find composers writing for grades 1-3.  There is a cash prize for the winner, plus the possibility of the winning work being published in Alfred’s Young Band catalog.  The next contest year is 2018. For information, email the contest chair, Audrey Murphy.

2018 Young Band Composition Contest Application

2016 Contest Winner: Haley Woodrow – And it Begins