The Bagaduce Music Lending Library has announced the results of its 19th annual Young Composers’ Competition & Festival. Thirty-three young composers from across the state of Maine submitted original compositions for review by a team of expert judges. Winners recently were announced and awarded cash prizes at the Young Composers’ Festival in Blue Hill. At the festival, the young composers performed their compositions for an audience of more than100 musicians and music lovers.

The young composers presented with awards included:

In Category I: Age 7-13, the first-place award went to Luke Bartol, 13, from Manchester, for his composition “March in G minor” written for two trumpets, French horn, and trombone; the second-place award was tied between Matthew Chase, 13, from Wells, for his composition “Jazz Hands” written for Bᵇ trumpet, alto sax, piano, bass guitar, drum set and high hot snare; and Maya Faulstich, 7, from Yarmouth, for her composition “Sweetie Bud, Sweetie Bud” written for piano. No third place was awarded.

In Category II: Age 14 through high school, the first-place award went to Adam Christianson, 14 from Seal Cove, and Alec Fisichella, 14, from Bass Harbor, for their composition “Wicked Fast” written for alto sax, Bᵇ trumpet, and trombone; second place to Hayden Stackim from Westbrook, for his composition “Into the Night” written for five percussion players on timpani, shaker, cowbells, drums, wind chimes, cymbal, temple blocks, triangle, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba, and xylophone; third place to Ethan Casavant, 18, from Hampden, for his composition “To Lose Thee” written for four part a Capella voice; honorable mention to Andrew Farm, 15, from South Portland, for his composition “Horn Concerto in A minor” written for French horn, two violins, viola, and violoncello; and honorable mention to Phillip Wright, 17, from Ellsworth, for his composition “Out and About” written for alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, piano, and snare drum.

At the 19th annual Young Composers’ Festival all young composers received certificates of merit and free membership to the Bagaduce Music Lending Library. During the festival, the young composers had the opportunity to meet and discuss their compositions with each of the judges. The judges were Fred Goldrich (head judge), Beth Wiemann, and Robert Bahr. This year’s keynote speaker was George Emlen, a conductor, composer, arranger, song leader and music educator.

The purpose of the Young Composers’ Competition is to offer a forum for Maine’s students to create new musical works and to develop their composing and notation skills. It also provides them with valuable feedback from professional musicians. All submissions are now part of the Bagaduce Music Lending Library’s esteemed Maine Collection.

The Bagaduce Music Lending Library, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, was formed in 1983 to provide music-library access to performers and music lovers nationwide, regardless of affiliation. The library’s mission is to collect, preserve, and share printed music and scores, and to promote music education. Along with the Young Composers’ Competition & Festival, the Music Library is host to the Blue Hill Pops Concert on July 3 each year, a fundraiser for the library and a summer-season tradition in downeast Maine.

For further information, contact Martina Herries or Tom Bartol at 374-5454.

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