Young Composer’s Forum

The Huntsville Youth Orchestra invites composers (ages 16 to 22) to submit orchestral compositions for the 15th Annual Young Composers' Forum at the Tennessee Valley Music Festival June 1-7, 2025 in Huntsville, AL.

Up to two (2) composers will be selected for participation. Winning submissions will be rehearsed daily and performed by the TVMF Festival Orchestra at Trinity UMC in Huntsville, AL. The concert will be recorded and each composer will receive a recording of their composition. Composers will also participate in a variety of sessions hosted by TVMF Resident Composer, Robert J. Bradshaw.

Please read over the Application & Compositional requirements before applying.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Email Applications to: mail@robertjbradshaw.com

  • 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, 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 Wednesday, April 2, 2025:
    - 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)
    - List of Compositions
    - List of Performances, if any, of submitted work
    (include dates and performer information)
    - Biography
    - Complete Full Score of Submitted Composition (PDF)
    - Recording (MIDI Realization is permitted)

    Submissions must be received by date April 2, 2025. There is NO ENTRY FEE

    Submit Entries to: mail@robertjbradshaw.com

    Winning composers will be notified via email and phone beginning Thursday, April 10, 2025, and must accept or decline their position in the Forum by 4pm CST (5pm EST) Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Composers must be prepared to supply a PDF of the complete full score and parts when requested, and are required to attend the 2025 Tennessee Valley Music Festival's Young Composers' Forum, JUNE 1-7, 2025.

  • Winning composers are required to attend the 2025 Tennessee Valley Music Festival's Young Composers' Forum, June 1-7, 2025 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, Alabama. Housing will be provided but only for the composers. 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 works rehearsed and performed.

  • 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

Internship Program

Each year, the TVMF Faculty and Staff invite instrumental and administrative interns to join the Tennessee Valley Music Festival.

Interns will:
- Play alongside faculty in the Tennessee Valley Festival Orchestra
- Assist instrumental faculty in masterclasses
- Play in student ensembles
- Play in Intern Chamber Ensembles (string quartet, woodwind quintet, brass quintet, and more)
- Assist with administrative tasks as needed (setting up rehearsals, stage crew for concerts, taking attendance, etc)

Interested in being an intern? Contact info@hsvyo.org.