In alignment with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant awarded to the School of Fine and Performing Arts in 2022, the music festival, Silver Melted into Sound again calls for compositions designed to increase repertoire written by underrepresented composers including people of color, women and other marginalized genders, or persons with a disability and/or draw attention to leading minority poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar.

The composition must be written for one of the following ensembles and at the performance level of a high school, Grade 3 ensemble:

Concert Band – standard instrumentation
String Orchestra
Chorus – SATB

The composition must be inspired by the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar.

Priority will be given to people who consider themselves to be part of an underrepresented population

The winning composition will be announced at the Silver Melted into Sound Music Festival on Friday, May 5, 2023.

The winning composition will receive a $250 cash prize sponsored by Theta Eta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and a world premiere performance by a Wright State University music ensemble during the 2023-2024 academic year.