The BMI Student Composer Awards recognize original classical compositions by composers under age 28. There is no school-enrollment requirement — eligibility is based only on age and residency, so high schoolers, college and conservatory students, and those in private study may all apply. Entrants submit an anonymized score and an audio rendering of an original work. The Foundation distributes $20,000 in prizes annually across winners, including the Ellen Taaffe Zwilich Prize for the most outstanding work and the Carlos Surinach Prize for the youngest winner.
Eligibility
Fields of studyMusic Composition
DemographicsOpen to composers under age 28 (as of February 15) who reside in the U.S. or its territories, or are citizens of a Western Hemisphere country; there is no school-enrollment requirement, so high school, college, conservatory, and privately-studying composers are all eligible.
Applying
$20,000 total is divided among winners each year; individual award amounts vary.