Opus 41 • Composition Writing Cycle
Each year, students from across Vermont are paired with professional composer/mentors to learn and grow as young composers. With no experience necessary, students in grades 3-12 sign up through their school music program and spend a couple of months writing and getting feedback through our secure, online mentoring program. From there, a handful of completed pieces are selected for performance in a live, public concert with professional musicians premiering each student work. Initial submissions need only be a short musical idea and a description of what the student has in mind so they can be paired with the right mentor! The majority of the composing will happen during our writing cycle (see dates below).
Listen to past works here: https://music-comp.org/opus-40-0
Opus 41 works can be written for any combination of the available instrumentation:
Brass Quintet (2 Trumpets, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba)
Voice (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass: 1 each)
Percussion (2 players, one of which can be a drum set)
Saxophone (Tenor or Baritone; 1 player)
Piano
Opus 41 Timeline:
Rolling Submissions December 1, 2026 through January 1, 2027
Final Submissions due: Monday, February 22, 2027
Selected works announced: Monday, March 1
Concert event: Tuesday, April 13, 2027
Signing up is EASY!
Step 1: Sign up your students today using THIS FORM.
You will receive an invoice and follow up information once received. Be sure to have your current NAfME Membership Number on hand when signing up! Not a member? Email our executive, Stefanie Weigand, to talk about options or become a member here.
Step 2: Families must fill out our online Permission Form before we can pair students with a mentor. Our site is secure & private, following COPPA regulations and we ask for family permission to ensure understanding in behavior & usage expectations.
Step 3: All new students must register for an account on our Mentoring Site. Returning students may use their old account. Email Stefanie if you need help managing an old account.
Step 4: Last but not least...
Once you are registered and have family permission, you are ready to post a new work!
This can be as short as a few measures and an idea! The majority of the composing and creative process will happen as you work directly with your mentor. Pieces can be added using Noteflight, Musescore, Sibelius, MP3 audio files, or any other program or file type.
Email Senior Mentor, Mike Close, with questions: music-comp@vmea.org
Add a new work!