The Metropolitan Wind Symphony, also known as MetWinds, a fifty-two year old, 65-member amateur concert band based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, is announcing its second New England Student Composer Competition. The goals of this Competition are to stimulate student composers to write new, high-quality music for the wind band, and motivate highly talented student composers to persist in building a career in composition by rewarding them with recognition, commission, and performance.

To be eligible to compete, the entrant must be a student in a school in any of the six New England states – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont – at the time of the submission. There are no age requirements or limitations.

Announcement of the winner will be made by July 1, 2023. The winner of the competition will be awarded a $1,000 commission to write a new four to eight minute work for full concert band, with instrumentation and approximate grade level to be specified by the MetWinds.

The work is expected to be premiered by the Metropolitan Wind Symphony during their Sept. 2025– May 2026 performance season, hopefully with the composer in attendance. Transportation, meals, and lodging will be provided for the composer. The winning composer will provide a PDF score, three hard copy scores, and a complete set of PDF parts to the MetWinds. $300 of the commissioning fee will be due the composer at the time of the award being made and the remaining $700 will be paid upon delivery of the score and parts to the MetWinds. The composer will grant the MetWinds the right to premiere the work but will retain ownership of the work.

Email entries to Bobby Piankian, rap@alum.mit.edu