Young Composers of Michigan

The Young Composers of Michigan (YCM) provides an opportunity for students from Michigan to have their creative work heard, recognized, and celebrated. YCM aims to support the development of students as Creators, Producers and Performers. YCM is open to all k-12 students from Michigan. Students submit at least one original piece of music and receive feedback and comments from highly experienced musicians, composers, and industry professionals as a part of the YCM Community. In addition, YCM hosts an annual live concert celebrating the top student composers in Michigan with live performances of their pieces at the Annual Michigan Music Conference.

Recognition, Development, and Opportunities for Performance

All submissions will receive comments and feedback from highly experienced Musicians, Composers, and Music Industry Professionals. Feedback and comments are designed to help composers develop their ideas and learn from listening to different perspectives on their work.

Students may choose to put their work in the running to be FEATURED in a LIVE PERFORMANCE at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids Michigan as part of the Michigan Music Conference. If your work is chosen, you will work with the production team to perform your piece in front of a live audience.

Volunteer as a Mentor on the New Directions Committee

Submissions are now being accepted for our 2027 concert program 

2027 Submissions

2026 featured composers:

Primary:

  • Rosa Parks by Kate Hierholzer 2nd grade, Freeland Elementary School  (Freeland, Mi)
  • The Dancing Xylophone by Zoey Waddell, 3rd grade, Parkview Elementary School (Novi, Mi)
  • LT by Luke Taggart, 3rd grade, Orchard Hills Elementary School (Novi, Mi)
  • Having Fun! by Ally Liska, 3rd grade, Orchard Hills Elementary School (Novi, Mi)
  • Yo by Elliot Nelson 3rd grade, Freeland Elementary School (Freeland, Mi)
  • My Dream by Haesol Jun, Daisy Kim, Sophie Sheng, and Minsol Seo 4the grade, Parkview Elementary School (Novi, Mi)
  • Daisy Dance by Zi Kay (Amber) Wong 4th grade Orchard Hills Elementary School (Novi, Mi)
  • MQ by Mahira Qutubuddin, 4th grade, Orchard Hills Elementary School, (Northville, Mi)
  • The Jolly Pirate by Amyra Singla, 5th grade, Pattengill  Elementary School  (Ann Arbor, Mi)
  • The Blood Rain by Kai Zammit, 5th grade, Pattengill  Elementary School  (Ann Arbor, Mi)
  • Enter by Lucas DelProposto, 5the grade, Pattengill Elementary School  (Ann Arbor, Mi)
  • The Thought of You by Lucy and Piper Westrin, 6th and 4th grade, Dewitt Middle School and Herbison Woods Elementary School (Dewitt, Mi)
  • Romantic Fantasy by Andy Quan and Eunki Cho, 6th grade, Novi Meadows Upper Elementary School (Novi, Mi)

Secondary:

  • Rondo alla Tarantella by Emma Yu, 8th grade, Novi Middle School (Novi, Mi)
  • Bourrée by Eunyu Cho, 8th grade, Novi Middle School (Novi, Mi)
  • In The Wake of Winter by Lee Elliott, 10th grade, Roseville High School (Roseville, Mi)
  • Unwavering by Isaac Weckerle, 10th grade, Cousino High School (Warren, Mi)
  • Prelude No. 1 in C minor. by Josef Turpin, 11th grade, Brighton High School (Brighton, Mi)
  • A Slow Descent Into Madness by James C. Teti, 11th grade, Interlochen Arts Academy (Interlochen, Mi)
  • The Cuckoo by Zoey Oxenreider, 11th grade, Waterford Kettering High School (Waterford, Mi)
  • To Outrun The Sun by Kiron Koenig, 11th grade, Reeths-Puffer High School, (Muskegon, Mi)
  • Much Ado About Nothing by Janet Rucker, 11th grade, Coldwater High School (Coldwater, Mi)
  • DERAIL by Curtis Klinger, 11th grade, Rochester High School, (Rochester Hills, Mi)
  • The Gleaming Bronze by Gwyneth Lin, 11th grade, Canton High School (Canton Township, Mi)
  • Reverie for Four Instruments by Nolan Musonda, 12th grade, Heritage High School (Saginaw, Mi)
  • Farewell Lullaby by Kyle Kirklin, 12th grade, Lake Orion High School (Clarkston, Mi)
  • String Quartet No. 1 in B Minor, Mvt. IV Adagio by Noah Springer, 11th grade, Walled Lake Western High School (Commerce Twp, Mi)

View past featured composers here

Young Composers Virtual Workshop

The Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA) thanks you and your students for participating in our events.  As part of all our activities pictures and videos are taken.  MMEA later uses these photographs and videos in all aspects of our online and print media.  Please contact us at executive@mmeamichigan.org if you know of a student who does not wish to appear in photos or videos so we can take steps to maintain their privacy.  Thank you!