Annual IVC Student Composer Competition

Successful students include, among many, the 2021-2022 IVC Student Composer Competition winners: Sophia Ahmad, Galen Weiss, and Justin Suzukawa. Moreover, IVC music student Brandon Pozzo offered his IVC Sophomore Composition Recital in January 2019. Joseph Bucsit won first place in both the 2018 and 2017 editions of the IVC Student Composer Competition and is also a recipient of the Andreas Prize composition competition at the Chamber Music Institute of Southern California (2017). Other notable students include Adaline Valentina Simonian, first prize winner of the 2nd edition of the IVC Student Composer Competition (2016); Sina Karachiani, first prize winner at the MACCC Composition Competition (2014); Tim Jensen (2013), who recently presented his sophomore composition recital at IVC; Jonathan Gerrard (2012), Bachelor of Music student in guitar performance at UC Irvine, who had a debut of his composition for full orchestra “Green Fog” in Paraguay in 2012; Mathieu Girardet (2011), Bachelor of Music student in clarinet performance and music education at Cal State Long Beach; Edward Park (2010), Bachelor of Music Composition graduate at Cal State Long Beach and Master of Music Composition student at CalArts, and Raul Vega (2009), who obtained his Bachelor in Music Composition from Cal State Long Beach in 2011 and currently works at the prestigious Remote Control Productions, run by renowned composer Hans Zimmer.

The composer may be of any nationality attending Irvine Valley College and must be enrolled in any IVC music course offered at this institution during the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 semesters. No age limit.

1. First place: $300
2. Second place: $200
3. Third place: $100

Entrants who were not selected as winners will receive critiques on their compositions. The jury will include a renowned composer (TBA).

Possible performance(s), not guaranteed, with written authorization by the awarded composer, at an IVC concert or concerts, potentially including the Annual Student Composer Concert, Instrumental Concert, Midnight Blue Concert, Student Concert, or any other.

The winner’s name, a short biography, their photo, and the name of the winning composition will be included on the Music Theory and Composition Facebook page as a part of the history of the competition.

The IVC music department requests, should any unpublished winning composition be eventually published, that it include the dedication of 1st, 2nd or 3rd Prize Winner of the Eleventh Annual Irvine Valley College Music Student Composer Competition 2024-25.

Entries can only be submitted electronically by completing and submitting the form below. Early entry is strongly recommended. Entries not meeting the below requirements will be rejected without recourse.

Your submission MUST include ALL the following:

1. A completed entry form.
2. A PDF document containing your score. Scores may be any combination of instruments (chamber, orchestral, wind symphony), electronics, voice, choir (mixed in 2, 3, or 4 parts a capella or keyboard accompanied), or any solo instrument. Pieces must have been written within the last two years, may be published or unpublished, and must not have received previous awards. All texts must be cleared of copyrights.
3. A recording (MP3, acoustic or sequenced).
4. There is no entry fee. Multiple entries are accepted. Ensure that your name and the title of your composition are clearly printed on all your materials.

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY APRIL 30, 2025 by 5 PM

Results will be posted by 5 pm May 12, 2025 on the IVC Music Theory and Composition Facebook page. Winners of the competition may be acknowledged at the Instrumental, Vocal, Keyboard, and/or Jazz concerts to be held in Spring 2025 or Fall 2026.

For more information, please email Dr. Daniel Luzko.