This is an open, adjudicated event for students of Hamilton-Halton ORMTA teachers only. The adjudicator will assess the compositions individually with consideration for the composer’s age.
The entry form will be available below on September 15, 2026. Deadline for submissions is October 15th, 2026. Adjudication will take place from October 16 through October 30.
There is a possible performance opportunity for the selected composition at the Hamilton-Halton ORMTA Canada Music Week Recital taking place on Sunday November 22, 2026.
Directions for Composition Competition
The composition title, the competitor’s name and age must appear clearly on page one of the score.
Scores may be created with notation Software or written by hand. Handwritten scores must be neat and easy to read.
Essential musical details (e.g. tempo, dynamics and articulation) must be included.
The first measure of each system must be numbered and page numbers included.
For works using multiple instruments, a complete score must be provided, not individual instrumentation.
The score can be uploaded in the application form on this page. *
Singer Songwriter participants will submit an original song in a popular style (e.g. folk, pop, rock) with accompaniment. The song can be fully notated with lyrics and accompaniment or in lead sheet format with lyrics, structure and chord progressions. An MP3 audio file or MP4 video recording of a performance of the song is required upon submission of the score. *
*The uploads are limited to 250 MB. If you need to send a file larger than 250 MB, please send it to diane.manojlovich@gmail.com
This is an open competition.
Participants must submit one original composition for any instrument or combination of instruments. Again, this is an open competition. Only one scholarship will be awarded.