Iowa Composers Forum
Annual Student Composers Competition
Submission Due Date: June 1, 2025
The Iowa Composers Forum seeks music educators, both private instructors and school teachers, to sponsor music compositions by students in 5th through 12th grades or undergraduate college students in the ICF Annual Student Composers Competition. Submissions may be written for any combination of instruments and/or voices. Entrants should be willing to travel to the ICF Event (location and date TBA) to hear their piece performed if selected for an award. The ICF will make every effort to have winning compositions performed at an ICF event, but we cannot guarantee performances of pieces requiring more than three instruments or voices. Entrants are strongly urged to compose for small ensembles.
Submitting composers must be either student members of ICF, students of ICF members, or reside in the State of Iowa to enter the competition. Students can enter a composition in one of three categories based on their grade equivalent:
Category 1: 5th - 8th grade;
Category 2: 9th-12th grade;
Category 3: undergraduate college student.
Cash awards: $100 and 1st prize certificate will be awarded to the top student winner in the 1st category; $125 and a 1st prize certificate will be awarded to the top student winner in the 2nd category; $200 and a 1st prize certificate will be awarded to the top student winner in the 3rd category. Honorary certificates may also be awarded at the discretion of the judges. Any composer who submits a piece this year will receive a one-year, free membership in the Iowa Composers Forum and be granted full benefits of membership, regardless of whether they receive a prize. The ICF reserves the right to declare no winners in a category if the judges determine there are no entries of sufficient quality.
To sponsor a student composer, please submit a full score of their work with all parts clearly shown and no more than two parts on a staff. Scores should follow standard ensemble layout practices, including proper instrumental order and transposition. Scores should be clearly labeled with the title of the composition and the grade level of the student at the time of submission. Please limit submissions to one work per student.
In a separate attachment, please include the following: composition title, approximate timing of the piece, instrumentation, and date when the piece was written; teacher’s name, address, telephone number, email and school (if applicable); student’s name, address, email, school (if applicable), age, grade level at the time of submission, newspaper contact; a short biography and brief program notes. If available, please also submit a recording of a live or electronic performance (a MIDI realization is acceptable).
This year’s judges will be Jonathan Wilson, ICF Board member and freelance composer, and Daniel Swilley, Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Northern Iowa and ICF Board member.
Please email iowacomposersforum@gmail.com with the last name of the composer and write “Student Composers Competition” in the subject of the message.
Follow us on Facebook or our website at iowacomposersforum.org. For further information, please contact Denise Knaack at degknaack@yahoo.com
Previous Winners:
2024
Middle School Division, first place “Sailor Pig” by Peter Gavrusev-Kortenkamp; teachers Kathryn Swinbank, Lauree Christman, and Mary Neumann.
High School Division, first place “Sailorville” by Adalyn Sidon; teacher Jennifer Luft
High School, Honorable Mention “Piano Duo in B Minor” by Alex Jones; teacher Laura Crumbleholme
College Division, first place “A Sad Bird Still Sings” by Sean Kiefer; teacher Michael Conrad
College, Honorable Mention “A Postulate So Intrepid” by Alexander Poutous; teacher Jonah Elrod
2023
Middle School Division, first place “The Forest of Sihir” by Pacey Kane; teachers Nicolas Propes and Ashley Knobloch
Middle School, Honorable Mention “Journey to the Top (and back again)” by Bailey Callahan; teacher Amie Callahan
High School Division, first place “Invocation No. 3” by Jacob Newton; teacher Dr. Réne Lecuona
College Division, first place “Cyber Kitty MK-5” by Alexander Poutous; teacher Jonah Elrod
College Division, Honorable Mention “Beans on Rye” by May Smith; teacher Jonah Elrod
2022
Middle School Division, first place ($100) “Brass Quartet in E-Flat Major” by Ethan Peterson, teacher Dr. Perry Mears
High School Division, first place ($125) “Asymmetry Prelude” by Lucas Zaehringer, teacher Richard Sessler
College Division, first place ($200) “Toy Box Suite” by Evan Erickson, teacher Tracey Rush
2021
Robert Majchrzak; teacher Perry Mears
Palmer LeVake; teacher Joshua Reznicow
Eric Kennedy; teacher Jonah Elrod
K.G.M. Muehring, honorable mention; teacher Luke Flynn
Lucas Zaehringer, honorable mention; teacher Richard Sessler
Brock Royle, honorable mention; teacher Joshua Reznicow
2020
Robert Majchrzak; teacher Perry Mears
Katie Bellows; teacher Michael Kimber
Evan Erickson; teacher Amy Dunker
2019
Kaelan Minett; teacher Bonnie Johansen-Werner
Jesus Pena; teacher Nicole Cody
Isaac R. Smith; teacher Jonathan Schwabe
2018
Zachary Randell; teacher Bonnie Johansen-Werner
Aaron Levin; teacher Eric McIntyre
2015
Ashley Kendrick; teacher Ralph Kendrick
Roberto Gemignani; teacher Jeffrey Prater
Rachel Bieker; teacher Bonnie Johansen-Werner
Jeremy Maas; teacher Brooke Joyce
Thomas Kodron; teacher Bonnie Johansen-Werner
Calyton Dryden, honorable mention; teacher Ralph Kendrick
Randy Wells; teacher Alan Schmitz
2014
Zachary Kendrick; teacher Ralph Kendrick
Ashley Kendrick; teacher Ralph Kendrick
Oisin Leopold; teacher Joshua Marquez
Nathanael Schatz; teacher Tracey Rush
Clayton Dryden; teacher Ralph Kendrick
Maddie Christensen, honorable mention; teacher Donna Washburn
Michaela Gyure, honorable mention; teacher Myron Peterson
Roberto Gemignani, honorable mention; teacher Jeffrey Prater
MIan Chen; teacher Roger Bergs
2009
Jordan Droegmiller, honorable mention; teacher Denise Knaack
Aaron Nicolaisen, honorable mention; teacher Denise Knaack
2008
Jordan Volkert; teacher Denise Knaack
2007
Emilee Droegmiller, honorable mention; teacher Denise Knaack
Cheyanne Porter, honorable mention; teacher Denise Knaack
2005
Kari Ludvigson, Katie Foley, Emily Reinking; teacher Denise Knaack
2003
Stephanie Shever; teacher Denise Knaack
2002
Katie Carnes, Andy Fick; teacher Rebecca Meyer
2001
Katie Carnes; teacher Denise Knaack
1997
Sarah Carnes; teacher Denise Knaack
1995
Carly Tyler; teacher Denise Knaack
1994
Amy Anfinson; teacher Denise Knaack