About the Competition

AME successfully mounted ten yearly composition competitions. The last four included three tiers, with winners and honorable mentions. Each winner received monetary awards ($1,000, $500, $300) and a performance of one of his or her works, and some of the composers who received honorable mentions, also received performances.

AME loves supporting living composers via our competition, but there are many costs involved, whether for the application process, compensation of the judges, the award money, and especially the NYC rehearsals, venue, PR and performances.

We need your help

AME is looking for a donor, underwriter, or organization that will endow our competition so we can keep it going into perpetuity. For more information, please contact us. In the meantime, please join us at our concerts in NYC, and in the summer, head to the Mostly Modern Festival, where AME joyfully celebrates and performs modern music in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Past Winners

Tenth COMPOSITION COMPETITION WINNERS (2016-17)

Tier III (Professional) (All Ages)

Tier II (Emerging) (18-35)

Winner: Pierce Gradone - Time, Thickened

Pierce Gradone - Time, Thickened Honorable Mention: Alexander Miller - Echoes in the Dark

Tier I (Young Artist) (22 and Under)

Winner: Aaron Mencher - Fast-Forward

Aaron Mencher - Fast-Forward Honorable Mention: Chris Neiner - Lacquer Prints

Chris Neiner - Lacquer Prints Honorable Mention: Josiah Sprinkle - The Four Temperaments

Ninth Composition COMPETITION WINNERS (2014)

Tier III (Professional) (All Ages)

Tier II (Emerging) (18-35)

Winner: Gabriella Smith - Brandenburg Interstices

Gabriella Smith - Brandenburg Interstices Honorable Mention: Michael Gilbertson - who remembers day

Michael Gilbertson - who remembers day Honorable Mention: Carolina Heredia - Lus in Bello

Carolina Heredia - Lus in Bello Honorable Mention: Alexander Miller - Echoes in the Dark

Tier I (Young Artist) (22 and Under)

Winner: Vincent Gover - Brook’s Release

Vincent Gover - Brook’s Release Honorable Mention: Ryan Lindveit - Short Stories

AME Eighth Composition Competition Winners (2013)

Tier III (Professional) (All Ages)

Winner: Carl Schimmel - Roadshow for Otto

Honorable Mention: Nicolas Scherzinger - Fractured Mirrors

Honorable Mention: Roger Zare - Fractal Miniatures

Tier II (Emerging) (18-35)

Winner: Nicholas Omiccioli - Flourishes

Honorable Mention: Paul Frucht - Echo in Roger’s Park

Honorable Mention: Takuma Itoh - Undercurrent

Tier I (Young Artist) (22 and Under)

Winner: Katherine Balch - Triple Point

Honorable Mention: Molly Joyce - Parade

Honorable Mention: Brendan McMullen - Seven Cicadas

AME Seventh Composition Competition Winners (2012)

Tier III (Professional) (All Ages)

Winner: Alejandro Rutty - Black Box Bossa

Honorable Mention: John Liberatore - Lennon Scatters and Fleeces His Flock

Tier II (Emerging) (Ages 18-35)

Winner: Lembit Beecher - Frantic Gnarly Still

Honorable Mention: Piotr Szewczyk - Nimbus

Tier I (Young Artist) (Age 22 and Under)

Winner: Hillary Purrington - Fixed Mediums

Honorable Mention: Loren Loiacono - Waking Rhythm

Past Winners*: 2011 and Earlier

*Composers who won prior to 2012 are now considered winners in the Tier II category, as these competitions were restricted to composers aged 18-35.