VMEA Student Composition Festival
2026 Composition Festival
Student Composers
The VMEA Student Composition Festival is accepting submissions for the 2026 Edition, to be held as part of the VMEA Professional Development Conference on Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 5:00PM-8:00PM at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia.
The Student Composition Festival is open to music students from Kindergarten through collegiate level, with the sponsorship of a current VMEA member.
The Festival will feature an engaging and interactive program including:
-
Select Student Performances
-
Composers’ Colloquium and Masterclass
-
Composition Displays
We are preparing for the 2026 composition festival and our festival co-chairs are excited to feature a composer panel moderated by Ryan Keebaugh (Bridgewater) and Andrea Reinkemeyer (GMU) for the student composers in attendance.
Accepted student composers, along with their families and educators, are responsible for their own transportation and lodging in order to participate in the Festival.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 11:59 PM, October 30, 2026
Rules & Regulations
Compositions
-
Submitted compositions will be evaluated based on compositional technique, musicality, and creativity.
-
Submitted compositions may be for any combination of instruments or voices, or for pre-recorded electronic performance.
-
Works should not exceed 8 minutes in duration; longer or multi-movement works may be shortened or have portions selected for potential performance.
-
There is no cost to submit a composition for evaluation.
Applicants
-
Any student (K-12 & Collegiate) of a VMEA-member music educator is eligible to submit compositions.
-
Submissions are not guaranteed for performance or display at the VMEA Professional Development Conference.
Conference Performance
-
Students whose work is selected for performance or the master class will be expected to attend the conference in-person and will have the option to provide their own performers or use a provided ensemble made up of music educators
-
Travel, housing, and other expenses for students who attend the conference are the responsibility of the student composer or sponsoring school.