COMPOSERS TODAY is a program offered by MTAC for students who compose their own music. In general, students will need to compose and notate a piece (or pieces) of music in order to participate. Students will also need to secure a performance of their piece (for submissions, a MIDI realization is acceptable) and create an MP3 recording.

*Note: If you have a creative student who doesn’t yet notate their music, please explore the wonderful IMPROVISATION program offered by MTAC. Each year, a number of students participate in both COMPOSERS TODAY and IMPROVISATION.

MTAC Santa Clara County Branch offers a way for student performers and student composers to collaborate. Composers are not required to perform their own works and, especially in ensemble pieces, there is often a need for student musicians. This creates an opportunity for both composition students and student performers to benefit from the COMPOSERS TODAY program.

If you would like your students to participate as composers or as performers working with composers, please contact John Syzygy. 

More information can be found on the MTAC Website.

Teachers:

If you have a student that would be interested in performing student-composed works, please send an email to composers@mtacsantaclara.org. All instruments are welcome!

Information about COMPOSERS TODAY can be found in your Teacher Portal.

• EVALUATIONS – Composers of all ages, including students and teachers, submit a recording and manuscript of their original composition, and receive written constructive comments and ratings from two professional evaluators. Based on ratings of the submitted recordings, compositions are selected for performance at one of several Symposium Recitals at the annual State Convention. 
• STATE CONTEST – Participants compete in eight divisions in Composition or Film Scoring. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Composition winners and 1st place Film Scoring winners each perform their composition—or have someone perform for them—at State Convention where they receive certificates and trophies. 
• YOUNG COMPOSERS GUILD (YCG) – Students who have won first, second or third prize in the Composers Today State Contest at least once during their high school years may apply for Guild membership. The Guild is for serious young composers who plan to pursue music composition as a career. 
• SENIOR MEDALLION – Students who have entered three different compositions during their high school years, and who have performed at a Composers Today recital at State Convention, are awarded a coveted Senior Medallion.