Composition Festival

ABOUT THE COMPOSITION FESTIVAL

This festival is to encourage students to write their own music and enjoy the creative process including the opportunity for a forum and public performance.

Students take so much pride in writing their own music! 

This event gives them an opportunity to share their music and meet other young composers.

COMPOSITION FESTIVAL CO-CHAIRS

Cynthia Papierniak and Billie Howard

Phone: (708) 834-0847

compfest@camta.org

IMPORTANT DATES AND VENUE

  • Registration Open: Sunday, March 1, 2026

  • REGISTRATION DEADLINE (extended): Friday, May 8, 2026

  • Composition Forum and Recital Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

  • Composition Forum and Recital Venue: Live or video on Zoom (TBA).

    If the recital is virtual, students may perform live or with a video recording.

     All students will be able to discuss their composition and each student will  receive a written critique from the judge. The judge will announce the winners at the recital.

REGISTRATION AND FEES

  • CAMTA member: $45 per manuscript | Non-member: $50 per manuscript

  • FEES CANNOT BE REFUNDED!

  • Registration and fee payments must be completed via the new CAMTA Member Portal.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

  • No student age or grade requirements.

  • No requirements as to form, length, or genre.

  • Divisions are as follows:

    • Elementary 1: Ages 6-7

    • Elementary 2: Ages 8-9

    • Junior 1: Ages 10-12

    • Junior 2: Ages 13-14

    • Senior: Ages 15-18

  • Elementary I students, ages 6 and younger, may submit a handwritten manuscript, inked over for clarity by an adult. Elementary II students seven years and older are required to use computer music notation software.

  • Piano or Instrumental: No requirements as to choice of instrument(s).

  • Songwriting: Words for songs must be original or in the public domain. Songwriting may be collaborative; lyrics and music may be composed by two or more persons.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

All materials will be submitted via the CAMTA Member Portal.

  • Upload a Recording: Send by audio, .mp3 file. No visual formats, DVD or YouTube videos. Make sure recordings do not list composer’s name.

  • Upload a Manuscript: Only title and age on manuscript. Please number measures and use a .pdf file.

2026 Judge and Artist:

Cassandra Kaczor

Cassandra Kaczor is a Chicago-based composer, pianist, multimedia artist, multi-instrumentalist, and entertainer. She has performed on  piano, drums, bass, and as a vocalist in nineteen states, on cruise ships, and in Europe.  

Kaczor earned her Master's degree in Music Composition as a Performing Arts Scholar from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts, where she studied privately with Dr. Kyong Mee Choi. 

Kaczor won the Michael Hall Viola Composition Competition (2017) and the Zodiac Trio Competition (2016) during her graduate career. Prior to this she studied with Curtis Curtis-Smith and Christopher Biggs at Western Michigan University. 

Kaczor was awarded residencies at the Djerassi Resident Artists Program and the I-Park International Artist-in-Residence Program in 2018.

As a freelance teacher, performer, and composer, she has made a return to teaching and has written her first novel, along with completing  her first EP. 

COMPoSITION FESTIVAL REGISTRATION

Register students via the CAMTA Member Portal.

Note: a computer (desktop/laptop) is required to use the CAMTA Member Portal. Mobile devices and tablets are not supported at this time.

Instructions for CAMTA Members

  • Log in to your Member Portal account.

  • Add all participating students to your Students roster.

    • Click Students in the top menu bar

    • Click the Add Student button to add any students that are not already listed in your roster.

  • From the top menu bar, click Events.

  • Select 2026 Composition Festival 

    • Click Register next to each student’s name to register students.

    • Enter the student’s composition details and upload the mp3 and manuscript.

    • Click the blue Register button. This will move the student to the Pending Payment column.

    • Check out of the Payment Cart to fully submit the registration.

Instructions for NON-Members

Teachers who are not members of CAMTA will need a Member Portal account to register students for the Composition Festival.

Any non-member who previously created a portal account for other CAMTA events can simply login and register their students. All non-member fees will automatically be applied.

If you have not previously created a Member Portal Account, fill out the form to request a non-member account. You will receive an email from portal@camta.org with instructions on how to get your account set up. Then follow the same instructions listed above to register students.

Member portal accounts will be allocated to teachers only (not parents).