NBA/William D. Revelli Composition Contest
William D. Revelli 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.
2019 Revelli Composition Contest Application
Contest Selection Committee:
- Chair: Matthew McCutchen, University of South Florida
- Terry Austin, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Marcellus Brown, Boise State University (ID)
- John Burn, Homestead High School (CA)
- Catharine Sinon Bushman, St. Cloud State University (MN)
- Col. Jason Fettig, U.S. Marine Band (DC)
- Jay Gephart, Purdue University (IN)
- Arris Golden, Michigan State University
- Jennifer Hamilton, Red Mountain High School (AZ)
- Chadwick Kamei, Pearl City High School (HI)
- Tremon Kizer, University of Central Florida
- Diane Koutsulis, Retired (NV)
- Jason Nam, Indiana University
- Scott Rush, Fine Arts Supervisor, Dorchester School District (SC)
- Shanti Simon, University of Oklahoma
- John Thomson, Roosevelt University (IL)
2018 Contest Winner: Wayne Oquin
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 2018 winner is Wayne Oquin with his Song for Silent Voices.
With premieres on five continents, in twenty countries, and in forty-one states, Wayne Oquin is among today’s most regularly performed American composers. A native of Houston, Texas, Oquin’s music has been commissioned and programmed by The Danish National Symphony, The Munich Philharmonic, The Pacific Symphony, and The Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as by The King’s Singers, pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin, and Grammy Award-winning organist Paul Jacobs.
On opening night of its 2017-18 season, The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, gave the east coast premiere of Oquin’s Resilience. This mini-concerto, featuring organist Paul Jacobs, was met with rave reviews, the Philadelphia Inquirer declaring it, “solidly constructed…a hearty surprise…that warranted an instant encore.” In May 2018, Nézet-Séguin will lead the Philadelphia Orchestra in additional performances in Brussels, Hamburg, and Luxembourg.
Echoes of a Solitary Voice, a tribute to the late Maestro Lorin Maazel, was commissioned and premiered by The Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Echoes received three additional performances with The Munich Philharmonic led by Maestro Rafael Payare.
Recognized for his achievements in choral music, Oquin’s O Magnum Mysterium has been called a “masterpiece,” in the standard chorale repertoire.The work was recorded by the Houston Chamber Choir under the direction of Robert Simpson and recently by The Dallas Chamber Choir, led by Jon Culpepper. Kent Tritle conducted the work at the 2014 Christmas Eve Service at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. This season, the Wisconsin Chamber Choir gave the world premiere of Oquin’s newest work, Alleluia.
Widely known for his contributions to the symphonic wind literature, Oquin has been performed by the United States Air Force, Army Field, Coast Guard, Marine, and West Point Military Academy Bands.In October 2017, The Marine Band performed Oquin’s A Solemn Place on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Tower Ascending, a tribute to the rebuilding of ground zero, has received more than one hundred performances throughout the U.S. and abroad. Affirmation, commissioned by the American Bandmaster’s Association and the University of Florida, was named winner of the 2014 National Band Association’s William D. Revelli Award. In recognition of their extensive collaboration with Oquin, the U.S. Air Force honored the composer with its prestigious Commander’s Medal of Excellence.
In 2008, upon completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts, The Juilliard School awarded Oquin its coveted Richard F. French Prize for best dissertation and appointed him to its faculty. As chair of Juilliard’s musicianship department, Dr. Oquin teaches music theory and graduate studies courses, lecturing weekly on Beethoven and The American Symphony: Ives to Corigliano.
For more information on the composer and his work, visit his website.
Previous Winners of the NBA/William D. Revelli Composition Contest
| Composer | Title | Publisher | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Oquin | Song for Silent Voices | Composer | 2018 |
| James Stephenson | Symphony No. 2 "Voices" | Composer | 2017 |
| Philip Sparke | A Colour Symphony | Anglo Music Press | 2016 |
| Paul Dooley John Mackey | Masks and Machines Wine-Dark Sea | Composer Composer | 2015 2015 |
| Wayne Oquin | Affirmation | Composer | 2014 |
| Oliver Waespi | Audivi Media Nocte | Hal Leonard-deHaske | 2013 |
| Michael Schelle | The End of the World | Composer | 2012 |
| Scott Lindroth Kevin Walczyk | Passage Epitaphs Unwritten | Composer Composer | 2011 2011 |
| Steven Bryant | Ecstatic Waters | Composer | 2010 |
| John Mackey | Aurora Awakes | Composer | 2009 |
| Steven Bryant | Suite Dreams | Composer | 2008 |
| Steven Bryant | Radiant Joy | Composer | 2007 |
| Frank Ticheli | Symphony No. 2 | Manhattan Beach | 2006 |
| Philip Sparke | Music of the Spheres | Anglo Music Press | 2005 |
| Joseph Turrin | Illuminations for Solo Trombone and Wind Symphony | Composer | 2004 |
| David Dzubay Sam Hazo | Ra! Perthshire Majesty | Pro Nova Music Boosey & Hawkes | 2003 2003 |
| Dean Roush | Illuminations | Composer | 2002 |
| Joseph Spaniola | Escapade | Musica Propria | 2001 |
| David Kechley | Restless Birds Before the Dark Moon | Pine Valley | 2000 |
| Donald Grantham | Southern Harmony | Piquant | 1999 |
| Donald Grantham | Fantasy Variations | Piquant | 1998 |
| Warren Benson | The Drums of Summer | Composer | 1997 |
| Walter Mays | Dreamcatcher | Composer | 1996 |
| Donald Grantham | Bum's Rush | Piquant | 1995 |
| Jeffrey Hass | Lost in the Fun House | Composer | 1994 |
| James Syler | The Hounds of Heaven | Composer | 1993 |
| Ron Nelson | Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) | Ludwig | 1992 |
| Mark Camphouse | To Build a Fire | TRN | 1991 |
| Paul Epstein | The Adventures of Matinee Concerto | Composer | 1990 |
| Gordon Ring | Concerto for Piano, Winds, and Percussion | Composer | 1989 |
| Martin Mailman | For Precious Friends Hid in Death's Dateless Nights | Ludwig | 1988 |
| Anthony Iannaccone | Apparitions for Symphonic Band | Ludwig | 1987 |
| Michael Colgrass | Winds of Nagual | Fischer (Rental) | 1985 |
| Arthur Gottschalk | Concerto for Wind and Percussion Orchestra | Composer | 1984 |
| Gregory Youtz | Scherzo for a Bitter Moon | TRN | 1983 |
| David Gillingham | Concerto for Bass Trombone and Band | Fischer (Rental) | 1981 |
| Byron Tate | Between Worlds | Composer | 1980 |
| Harry Bulow | Textures | TRN | 1979 |
| Jerome Sorczek | Variations for Band | Composer | 1977 |
| No Award Made | 1982 | ||
| No Award Made | 1986 |
NBA/Merrill Jones 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.
2020 Merrill Jones Contest Application (will be updated by Summer 2019)
2018 Contest Winner: James M. David
James David of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the 2018 winner of the NBA/Merrill Jones Composition Contest. His winning composition is entitled With Soul Serene.
Dr. James M. David (b. 1978) is an internationally recognized composer who currently serves as associate professor of composition and music theory at Colorado State University and is particularly known for his works involving winds and percussion. His symphonic works for winds have been performed by some of the nation’s most prominent professional and university ensembles including the U.S. Army and Air Force Bands, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Des Moines Symphony, the Ohio State University Bands, Northwestern University Bands, and the University of North Texas Wind Symphony among many others. His compositions have been presented at more than fifty national and international conferences throughout North and South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. These events include the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the American Bandmasters Association Convention, the College Band Directors National Association Conferences, the National Band Association Conferences, the College Music Society National Conference, the Society of Composers, Inc. National Conference, seven International Clarinet Fests, the International Horn Symposium, the World Saxophone Congress, the International Trombone Festival, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Among the distinctions David has earned as a composer are an ASCAP Morton Gould Award, the National Band Association Merrill Jones Award, national first-place winner in the MTNA Young Artists Composition Competition, two Global Music Awards, and national first-place winner in the National Association of Composers (USA) Young Composers Competition. Commissions include projects for Joseph Alessi (New York Philharmonic), John Bruce Yeh (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Zachary Shemon (Prism Quartet), the Oasis Quartet, BlueShift Percussion Quartet, Gerry Pagano (St. Louis Symphony), The International Saxophone Symposium and Competition, The Playground Ensemble, and the Atlantic Coast Conference Band Directors Association.
As a native of southern Georgia, Dr. David began his musical training under his father Joe A. David, III, a renowned high school band director and professor of music education in the region. This lineage can be heard in his music through the strong influence of jazz and other Southern traditional music mixed with contemporary idioms. He graduated with honors from the University of Georgia and completed his doctorate in composition at Florida State University under Guggenheim and Pulitzer recipients Ladislav Kubik and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. His music is available through Murphy Music Press, C. Alan Publications, Potenza Music, and Lovebird Music and has been recorded for the Naxos, Albany, Summit, Luminescence, and MSR Classics labels.
For more information on this composer 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, Retired (KY)
- Mike Oare, Great Bridge Middle School (VA)
- Scott Pierson, Yelm High School (WA)
- Paul Popiel, University of Kansas
- Mickey Stisher, LaPorte High School (IN)
- Scott Weiss, University of South Carolina
Previous Winners of the NBA/Merrill Jones Composition Contest
| Composer | Title | Publisher | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| James M. David | With Soul Serene | Composer | 2018 |
| Joshua Hummel | Fanfare for the Appalachians: I-77 | 2016 | |
| David Faleris | Of Chivalry and Valor | Composer | 2014 |
| Jess Turner | Exultant Heart | Wingert Jones | 2012 |
| Jack Hughes | After Rain | Wingert Jones | 2010 |
| No Award Given | 2009 | ||
| Ryan Main | The Clash | Wingert Jones | 2007 |
| Brett Dietz | shards of glass | Wingert Jones | 2005 |
| Jonathan Newman | Moon by Night | Wingert Jones | 2003 |
| Samuel Hazo | Novo Lenio | Wingert Jones | 2001 |
| Charles Rochester Young | Legends of the Northern Wind | Southern | 1999 |
| No Award Given | 1998 | ||
| Robert T. Smith | Panther Fire | Southern | 1996 |
| David Checketts | Festival de Ladrones (Festival of Thieves) | TRN Publishers | 1994 |
| Robert Cronin | A Soldier's March | Wingert Jones | 1992 |
NBA Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest
NBA Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest
Matt Horanzy Wins NBA’s Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest for 2018
Init 1 by Matt Horanzy is the NBA Young Composers Jazz Composition Contest winner for 2018. This original work was performed by the United States Air Force Airmen of Note, directed by Master Sergeant Ben Patterson, at the 2018 Midwest Clinic. The performance took place on Thursday, December 20, 7:30 PM, at McCormick Place.
Matt Horanzy is a jazz guitarist, composer, and educator living in Washington, D.C. Having recently completed a Masters degree in Jazz Composition at the University of South Florida, Matt has shared the stage with musicians such as Nick Finzer, Danny Gottlieb, Frank Greene, John Clayton, John Beasley, and Steve Allee. During the summer of 2017, Matt joined the USF Jazz Ensemble to perform throughout the United Kingdom at the Edinburgh, Liverpool, and Birmingham Jazz Festivals. As a composer, Matt has written for ensembles ranging from solo performer to jazz orchestra. Currently, Matt is a member of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in New York City, under the direction of Andy Farber and Alan Ferber. Matt has studied with Grammy nominated and award winning artists such as Chuck Owen, Jim McNeely, LaRue Nickelson, Joshua Bayer, and Fernando Benadon.
A special thank you to the VanderCook College of Music for providing a $500 award to this year’s winning jazz composer.
Learn more about this composer and his music here.
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
2016: Cassio Vianna – April Song
2017: No prize awarded
2018: Matt Horanzy – Init 1
NBA Jazz Composition Contest Flyer for 2019
Have a question? Nee more Information?
Email Erich Rivero, Jazz Composition Contest Chair
NBA/Alfred Young Band Composition Contest
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 2020. For information, email the contest chair, Audrey Murphy.
2020 Young Band Composition Contest Application – will be updated in Summer 2019
2016 Contest Winner: Haley Woodrow – And it Begins
Haley Woodrow is a composer, educator and trumpet player. Woodrow served as Orchestra Director and Arranger for Cornerstone Baptist Church from 2006-2013, where she completed approximately 500 arrangements. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Music in jazz studies from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2008 and earned her Master of Music in composition from Texas Christian University in 2016. She studied composition with Mr. Dan Cavanagh, Dr. George Chave, Dr. Blaise Ferrandino and Dr. Neil Anderson-Himmelspach.
Woodrow’s musical interests are broad, and successfully hybridizing styles is one of her primary objectives when composing. She aims to allow players to contribute to the music as much as possible, since she is scarred from counting hundreds of rests as a trumpet player!
In 2015 and 2016, Woodrow received the Band Division award of the Texas Music Educators Association’s College Composition Contests for her composition And it Begins and March for Jazz, respectively. She placed 3rd in the 2016 TMEA Graduate Essay Competition for her essay, Etch a Sketch: The Benefits of Collaboration in the Compositional Process and earned the People’s Choice award for her speech presentation of her work for Symphonic Band entitled End Times in the 2016 TCU division of the 3-Minute Thesis competition. Her jazz band arrangement Something Entirely Different won first place in the 2015 Noteflight Big Band Composition Contest. Several of her compositions are published by Hal Leonard, Alfred, and MurphyMusicPress.
Woodrow is currently an Adjunct Instructor for Tarrant County College (Ft. Worth, Texas). She has also recently served as the Instructor of the Hillwood Middle School Composition Club in Keller ISD, where she works with middle school band students to create collaborative compositions for their concerts. She believes providing an avenue for students to perform the music they compose at a young age will be of the upmost educational and creative value. Since 2004, Woodrow has taught many students privately, independently and for various school districts.
Woodrow has been commissioned by the TCU Trombone Summit, the Rising Star High School Jazz Band, the Santo High School Marching Band and the Killian Middle School Saxophone Trio. Her concert works have received performances at the TMEA convention, multiple SCI conferences, the MUW Music by Women Festival, the Houston Underground Saxophone Competition, and various Texas and Kansas Jazz Festivals. She has also been hired by many churches including Oak Cliff Bible Church, Westside Baptist Church and East Dallas Christian Church to create horn section, rhythm section and orchestration arrangements. Her husband, trombonist Jonathan Woodrow, and she are also active in creating horn section recordings in their home studio for artists such as Norman Hutchins, Lamar Campbell and Earl Bynum. Her self-authored curriculum The Practical Musician was created as a training course for musicians seeking to become contributing musicians in a gospel church environment. For more information on her music, visit her website.
Below is information from Woodrow’s winning composition, As it Begins.
I’ll never forget the moment in time when an instrument was assigned to me as an incoming beginning band student. This seemingly simple decision had major implications on the seven years I spent in middle school and high school band and continues to have impact on my life today as an adult. My composition “And it Begins” celebrates new beginnings among the first of many pieces your students will surely perform! The initial melodic intro quickly gives way to a snare and low winds feature. The middle section highlights a lydian dominant sound, unique to young band literature, and then builds to a full band climax and the return of the snare solo. All instruments will enjoy playing this fresh, new composition for concert band!
Previous Winners
2012: Clifton Jones – Rondo Picoso
2014: Erika Svanoe – The Haunted Carousel
2016: Haley Woodrow – And it Begins