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Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts

Composition Competition

The RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition Competition is an annual competition open to all composers, regardless of age or nationality. The competition is judged by composition faculty and ensemble directors at the Illinois State University School of Music as well as by nationally and internationally recognized composers. The composer of the winning piece in each category receives a $1000 prize and a performance at the RED NOTE New Music Festival.

The judging for the RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition has now concluded. As always, many outstanding compositions were submitted to the competition, and we would like to thank the composers who participated.

For details on past competitions, visit the Past Winners page.

Category A

In Category A, there were 444 anonymous submissions from 37 states, territories, and provinces in the United States and Canada and from 35 other nations around the world.  Initial rounds were judged by the Music Composition faculty at Illinois State University.   The Final Round was judged by the esteemed composers: 

  • Oscar Bettison (The Peabody Institute)
  • Colin Matthews, OBE (Royal College of Music)
  • Karola Obermüller (University of California at San Diego)

The results of the competition (Category A) are as follows:

  • WINNER:

    • Interludes,
      by Peter Fahey (Belfast, Northern Ireland)

  • RUNNER-UP:

    • still,
      by Keith Fitch (Cleveland Heights, OH)

  • HONORABLE MENTIONS:

    • AESOP 2,
      by Robin Haigh (London, England)
    • Bloodsnow,
      by Yotam Haber (Kansas City, MO)
    • ludus cyclus,
      by Jaebong Rho (Busan, South Korea)

Peter Fahey will receive the $1000 prize, and his winning work will be performed on March 27, 2025, on the final concert of the RED NOTE New Music Festival in Normal, Illinois.

Category B

In Category B, there were 313 anonymous submissions from 42 states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada and from 35 other nations around the world. Initial rounds were judged by the Music Composition faculty at Illinois State University. The final round was judged by Dr. Glenn Block, Director of Orchestras at ISU. 

The results of the competition (Category B) are as follows:

  • WINNER:

    Barnstorming Season,
    by Matthew Browne (Loveland, CO)

  • RUNNER-UP:

    Obliviana,
    by Patrick O'Malley (Los Angeles, CA)

  • HONORABLE MENTION:

    Symphony No. 1,
    by Nicky Sohn (Seoul, South Korea)

  • ADDITIONAL FINALISTS:

    Carlos Bandera (Chicago, IL)
    Andrew Burke (Philadelphia, PA)
    Arjan Dogra (Brooklyn, NY)
    Baldwin Giang (Philadelphia, PA)
    Robin Haigh (London, United Kingdom)
    Veljko Nenadić (Smederevo, Serbia)
    Jaebong Rho (Busan, South Korea)
    Matt Smith (West Hollywood, CA)

Matthew Browne will receive the $1000 prize, and Dr. Block will conduct the Illinois State University Symphony Orchestra in a performance of the winning work on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Normal, Illinois.

Category C

In Category C, there were 96 submissions from 28 states and Canadian provinces and from 17 other nations around the world. Initial rounds were judged by the Music Composition faculty at Illinois State University. The final round was judged by Dr. Andrew Bruhn, Director of Choral Activities at ISU.

The results of the competition (Category C) are as follows:

  • WINNER:

    whereof one cannot speak,
    by Dayton Hare (Paris, France)

  • RUNNER-UP:

    Everyone's Voice,
    by Mark Kilstofte (Greenville, SC)

  • HONORABLE MENTION:

    Lime Song,
    Angus Davison (Sydney, Australia)

Dayton Hare will receive the $1000 prize, and Dr. Bruhn will conduct the Illinois State University Concert Choir in a performance of the winning work on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Normal, Illinois.