MARIPOSA — The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra has issued its annual challenge to all Mariposa County residents aged 8 to 18 — compose your own classical music and you may be able to hear it performed by a full, live symphony orchestra.
Three winning contestants will also each receive $50, a score containing all winning entries orchestrated by MSO Founding Music Director and Conductor Les Marsden, a certificate and a recording of the orchestrated compositions as realized via a sampled orchestral computer program.
Marsden created the ”Young Master Composers Celebration” as a program of the Mariposa County Arts Council over a decade ago. The program consists of simple guidelines by which student musicians can create their own composition in “Sonata” Form – the basic structure of most concert music composed in the 18th and 19th centuries and still in use today.
All entries are adjudicated by Marsden and those best following the guidelines are selected as winners. Marsden then orchestrates the compositions and they’re premiered live in concert by the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra at its annual “Independence Day Spectacular!” concert, to be held this year on Saturday, July 1.
”Young Master Composers Celebration” is intended to not only help aspiring young composers to compose “classical” music of their own, but to appreciate music that’s already been written by some of the greatest composers past and present.
The contest is open to Mariposa County residents aged 8 – 18 who can follow simple guidelines – and it’s best if they read music.
Deadline for all entries is Friday, May 19, by 4 p.m. They must be received at the office of the Mariposa County Arts Council, located at 5009 Highway 140 (Top Floor of Chocolate Soup) at the southern entrance to the historic town of Mariposa. Hours are normally M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office may be reached by calling (209) 966-3155.
More information is available online at the Arts Council’s website: http://www.mariposaartscouncil.org/young-master-composers-celebration. There’s a link on that page for a direct download of the 2017 contest’s guidelines and application.
