Competitions

Composers are invited to create a Symphonina and submit to our Symphonina competitions.

Guidelines for creating a Symphonina

  1. The full composition should generally be less than 10 minutes, and never longer than 12 minutes. It should be tonal rather than atonal.
  2. The composition should have three or four movements. Ideally, the format for each movement should be in a different tempo, such as allegro, adagio, allegro.
  3. The composition should feature all elements of a typical orchestra: strings, woodwinds, and brass. It may also include percussion and featured instrumental performances, as found in concertos.
  4. Keep in mind how your composition will sound and appear when performed live. For example, if your composition requires 48 violins, it will be unlikely to be performed live.
  5. If you would like to have the Symphonina Foundation endorse your composition, please contact us for details on how to send it to us for consideration.

2025 - Best Symphonina of the Year Award Competition

Now is the time to start working on your Symphonina for the 2025 Symphonina of the Year Award Competition. Composers from around the world are invited to submit their best original (unpublished) Symphonina for consideration from November 1, 2025 until 11:59pm, Pacific Time, December 10, 2025 to Dr. David Fogel at david.fogel@symphonina.org in mp3 format. Only one submission for consideration may be offered by a composer. Contestants must read and agree to the full rules of the contest.   

2024 - Best Symphonina of the Year Award Competition

The Symphonina Foundation is pleased to officially announce the winners of the 2024 Best Symphonina of the Year competition. First prize winner, Jordan Jinosko (USA), was awarded the $2000 grand prize. Alexander Unseth (USA) was selected as runner-up and earned the $1000 runner-up prize. Third-place winner, Christopher Reed (USA)  was awarded a $500 third-place award.

The Symphonina Foundation thanks all the volunteer judges: James Dumas, Vivian Fang Liu, Scott Carter, Steve Locks, Tess Remy-Schumacher, Julie Vivaldo, Chetan Tierra, Diana Tash, Bernadett Nyari,  Chris Prather, Joanne Lazzaro, Dimitri K., Wilhelm von Dungen, David Leiman, Rasa Vitkauskaite, and Patti Drennan.  

Please email any questions regarding the contest to David at david.fogel@symphonina.org.