There will be many opportunities for composers to interact with each other, faculty, and students, such as:
- Participate in daily rehearsals of composers’ compositions
- Present and discuss your music with other composers and musicians
- Attend orchestra and chamber music rehearsals and performances
- Composition and Music Industry master classes
- Open discussions on a variety of topics
- Faculty instrument demonstrations, master classes, and Q&A sessions

- Maximum Duration: Seven (7) minutes.
- Maximum Instrumentation (no concerti or electronics): 3 flutes (piccolo), 2 oboes (english horn), 3 clarinets (bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani (limit 4), 3 percussion*, harp, and strings (vl1, vl2, va, vc, cb).

*Mallet percussion is limited to tubular bells (chimes), xylophone, and glockenspiel.

*Any combination of winds, brass, and percussion will be accepted, but all works must include strings.

Composers must submit the following due Monday, April 6, 2026:
- Cover letter explaining why this opportunity would be valuable for you.
- CV/Résumé (PDF) containing the following:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Valid Email Address
- Current Phone Number
- Current School/Composition Teacher (if applicable) ‍
- Biography
- List of Compositions
- List of Performances, if any, of submitted work
(include dates and performer information)
- Complete Full Score of Submitted Composition (PDF)
- Recording (MIDI is permitted)

Submissions must be received by date April 6, 2026. There is NO ENTRY FEE.

Submit Entries to: mail@robertjbradshaw.com

Winning composers will be notified via email and phone beginning Monday, April 13, 2026, and must accept or decline their position in the Forum by 4pm CST (5pm EST) Friday, April 17, 2026. Composers must be prepared to supply a PDF of the complete full score and parts when requested, and are required to attend the Tennessee Valley Music Festival's Young Composers' Forum June 7-13, 2026.

Winning composers are required to attend the 2026 Tennessee Valley Music Festival's Young Composers' Forum, June 7 - 13, 2026 in Huntsville, AL. Composers must be prepared to supply a PDF of the complete full score and parts when requested by the HYO.

Composers are responsible for their own transportation to Huntsville, AL. Homestay will be provided for the composers only. Composers younger than 18 years old will receive housing with a youth orchestra family. Composers will need to bring money for food.

Winning composers are not charged any fees to participate in the Forum but are required to attend the festival in person, in order to have their composition rehearsed and performed.

2025
Michaela Nuñez - Just Breathe
Aidan Feeny - Symphony No. 2 “Ex Profundis”

2024
Vito Geraci - Sonata for Skyscrapers
Mason Kistler - Mountain Storms and Valley Peace

2023
YCF was not held

2022
**winners from 2020 and 2021 were invited to Huntsville, Alabama, for TVMF 2022
Sierra Wojtczack - Un Juego
Jack Wolfe - Exodus

2021
**virtual YCF/in-person TVMF
Elizabeth Cochran-Bryan - The Open Ocean
Sierra Wojtczack - Un Juego

2020
**virtual YCF/virtual TVMF
Jack Wolfe - Exodus
Anika Fuloria - Worker 21486: Life and Death in the Hive

2019
German Lopez - 451 Overture
Matthew Shorten - Floating Isles

2018
Changwei Li (Melody) - Journey of Dawn
Travis Wattingney - the awakening valley

2017
Leigha Amick - East of the Sun, West of the Moon
Gillian Rae Perry - Soul’s Response
LokYan Tsang (Phoebe) - Ballade: “Purple”

2016
Jacob Barrow - Keepers of the Deep
Andrew Hamilton - Sun Suite

2015
William Ford - Admiration
Amy Thompson - Hourglass

2014
Robert Shepley - Capturing Wonder: A Short Journey in Music
Timothy Smith - El Bosque Norte
Lauren Taylor - Odysseus in the Underworld

2013
Devin Barone - Expansion
Sabrina Cline - Lullaby of the Sirens
Nathan Hudson - Exhilaration

2012
Sean Calhoun - Coruscation
Curtis Lindsey - I divertimenti di Montecatini, Concert Overture
Travis Rigby - Overture to a Cinematic Adventure

2011
Sean Calhoun - Elegy
Emily Cooley - Theme and Variations for Orchestra
Justin Giarrusso - Wind Storm: Gale Force
Katie Lott - Daylight
Daniel Strokis - Piece for Orchestra