ESYO - SPAC Student Composition Contest
The Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO) and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) are excited to announce the return of the ESYO-SPAC Student Composition Contest for students in grades 6-12 who reside in Albany, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Warren, and Washington counties. The winning composition will be performed by the ESYO Symphony Orchestra, conducted by ESYO Music Director Etienne Abelin, on the mainstage at SPAC on Sunday, May 31, as part of SPAC’s annual "Adirondack Trust Company Festival of Young Artists" community event!
SUBMISSION DETAILS
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Compositions must be submitted by 5pm on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
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All applicants must be in grades 6-12 and reside in one of the following NY counties: Albany, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Warren, or Washington.
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The length of each composition must be between 5 and 8 minutes.
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Adding choral parts to your submitted piece is a possibility! If interested, please contact Linsey Reardon at lreardon@spac.org for further details.
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Scores must be complete and finished when submitted.
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Each applicant must provide a digital PDF of their original score. (Please do not include the composer's name on the PDF so that the piece can be reviewed anonymously.)
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The work must be newly composed so that this performance is considered a “world premiere”.
Submissions that meet the above requirements will be reviewed by panelists with the following criteria:
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Creative approach: Your composition should exhibit a unique artistic voice. A connection to the festival theme, “Seasons”, is strongly encouraged. Be bold! All musical styles are welcome.
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Playability: Your piece should be composed for the ESYO Symphony instrumentation (3, 2, 2, 2 – 4, 3, 3, 1, timp., 3 perc., piano, strings), and it should not extend beyond a reasonable skill level for a youth orchestra.
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Presentation: Your submitted score should have clear and complete notation, as well as a clear communication of musical ideas. Non-conventional notation is welcomed.
AWARD DETAILS
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The composer of the selected piece will be presented with an Outstanding Artist Award on the SPAC stage along with a $500 check to support their future artistic endeavors.
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The composer will be mentored by Chris Fisher-Lochhead during the months of Feb-Apr. During this period, they will receive valuable input and guidance leading up to the performance at SPAC, as well as assistance with potential needs with instrumentation, orchestration, etc.
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The score and parts for the ESYO Symphony Orchestra will be due on Monday, April 6.
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The selected composer will be expected to attend one to three orchestra rehearsals (Sundays, 2–4 pm at Brown School, Schenectady) to collaborate with the orchestra by giving and receiving feedback.
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ESYO and SPAC may decide, with the composer’s permission and input, to add the element of dance to the selected piece for the SPAC performance.
Nature moves through cycles of growth, transformation, reflection, and renewal—and so do we. Each season brings its own mood and meaning, shaping both the world around us and the landscapes within us. To commemorate 60 years of SPAC and its recent blossoming into a vibrant, year-round community space, middle and high school students are invited to create original works in visual art, poetry, or the performing arts inspired by the seasons - what shifts, what stays, and what sings beneath the surface of change.
2026 Festival Theme
SEASONS