The purpose of ASTA's Merle J. Isaac Composition contest is to encourage the composition, publication, and performance of music of quality for the benefit of school orchestra programs.

This year, ASTA accepted compositions in junior and senior divisions. The winners are as follows:

Junior Division: Kevin Hartnett of Lee’s Summit, MO for “Indignation”
Senior Division: Susan Day of Littleton, CO for “Shores of Ireland”

The junior division is open to student composers through the age of 18. Students are invited to submit an original, unpublished composition that is suitable for string orchestra at the elementary or middle/ junior high school level. Click here for the junior level division application and guidelines.

The senior division is open to composers aged 19 and above. Composers are invited to submit an original, unpublished composition that is suitable for a string or full orchestra at the elementary, middle/junior high school or high school level. Click here for the senior level division application and guidelines. The selection process: in the Preliminary Round, all entries are screened (score analysis) by a panel of three judges. Compositions selected for the Final Round are rehearsed and performed by a school orchestra for a panel of five judges.

ASTA reserves the right to declare that a winner does not exist if the entry requirements and the musical standards are not fulfilled. The deadline for the contest each year is January 15.

The next postmark deadline for both competitions is January 15, 2010.