Music Gifts by Becky (Under 15 Years 2025 Entries)
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2025 Compositions (12th Annual Youth Composition Competition) - Age 10 to 14 Entries
Judges are Paul Brody and Murphy Severtson
First Place - Alex Landry Second Place - Ethan Monberg
See Student Composition entries listed in alphabetic order for ages 10 - 14 below.
Youth Compositions : ages 15 and 16 HERE, and for ages 17/18 HERE.
As Owner and Creator of MusicTeacherGifts.com, I, Becky Chaffee have created this competition to highlight youth involved in music. It is rewarding to assist these very talented students, even in such a small way. Because of the thank you notes over the years from students, parents and teachers, I have kept this going. Th e best way to thank me is to purchase my music products for yourself or for teacher gifts.
Students that enter the composition competition have different amounts of experience and instruction. No one should be discouraged if they don’t “place”. This competition is meant to encourage the students. Many tell me, they enjoy seeing each others work for inspiration. (Most of the student entries are presented below, or on the pages noted for their age group - scroll down).
Both experienced young composers and composers with little or no instruction are comfortable entering this competition. I think the most important part of this is the judges’ feedback to fuel future work for each student. In addition, it is great for the students to see what others are creating. The judges and I also love the privledge of hearing the student work.
This competition was created and is orchestrated by myself as volunteer work. I create everything sold on this website, and again, I hope that you will purchase gifts here for your teachers and friends to help support this project. There are many, many unseen hours poured into this competition in addition to finding the wonderful volunteer judges, and donating the prize money with the help of SheetMusicPlus.com. Please look up the work of the amazing judges listed here, and give our sponsors your business. Thank you.
From original art by Becky Chaffee
Also popular as large prints.
Some of the original paintings are also available for purchase. Of course there are fun paintings with bassoons and trombones and tubas or bands! They are mainly less popular because there are less people that play these instruments.
If you don’t see a painting you are looking for with a specific instrument or demonstrating a specific music practice tip, please send me a note at Becky@MusicTeacherGifts.com
Alex Bubenic, “The Last Soldier”
Alexander Bubenik, age 12, lives in Gainesville, Florida. He has been a musician for many years, starting on piano and then expanding to euphonium and trombone. His love of composing was sparked by his piano teacher and he has never stopped. Alex enjoys composing for a variety of instruments. His first public performance of a composition was a piano duet at age 10. The following year, the wind ensemble at his school premiered his first band composition. He is inspired to keep exploring different musical styles and instrument combinations. Alex is also an avid soccer player.
Beatrice Clemens, “Expecto Patronum”
Beatrice Clemens is an eleven-year-old from Albany, New York. At seven, she discovered that her parents let her procrastinate practicing piano if she was busy composing music. In addition to playing piano and/or clarinet in concert band, wind ensemble, jazz band and marching band, she enjoys rock climbing, musical theatre, science experiments, building forts, world geography and rollerblading, but most of all, she loves reading.
Alex Landry, “Attack of the Demons” First Place
Alex Landry is 13 years old from Round Rock, Texas. He plays euphonium in the Walsh Middle School Honor Band. His band played on stage with the University of Texas Wind Symphony and got to perform at the Music for All National Festival last year. He is also a part of Walsh’s Premier Brass, which performed at the TMEA Clinic/Convention.
Attack of the Demons is an exciting, suspenseful piece intended for a Concert Band or Wind Ensemble. The dynamic contrast is a primary part of the composition, highlighting the difference between the attacks and the tense situations between them.
Elaine Liu, “Hapiness on Earth”
Elaine Liu is a freshman at Westwood High School in Austin, Texas. She likes to play flute, piano, and compose music. Her work has been recognized by the MTNA, NFMC, BICC, and more. She also enjoys reading, writing, and taking long walks.
Ethan Monberg, “Summer Drive” Second Place
Ethan Monberg (b. 2010 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a composer, vocalist, and pianist. His compositions have received both state and divisional awards from MTNA – Alfred Music, as well as awards from the Golden Key International Music Festival, Pacific Musical Society & Foundation Competition, Helping with Arts Composition Competition, the Jamie Bell Recording Project, Berlioz International Music, Bach International Music, Max Bruch International Music, and many others. In 2024, he participated in Fear No Music’s Young Composers Program and was awarded a Composer Fellowship at Suncoast. Composer Mason Bates has called his music “masterful, especially for a 14 year old” and “demonstrating a very refined ear for harmony”. His music has been performed by Hypercube and the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, and his opera The Mime was performed by the Philadelphia Vocal Conservatory. He will premiere his piece “Summer Drive” this April at Kaufman Music Center in New York and this July at Ehrbar Hall as well as Bӧsendorfer Hall at Mozarthaus in Vienna. Ethan is a member and soloist with the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale. He has appeared in numerous operas with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia, including starring as Amahl in Opera Philadelphia’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. He is a student of Phillip Roberts of the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Susan Nowicki of the Curtis Institute, and Michael Ashby, director emeritus of the Philadelphia Vocal Conservatory.
Maria Ma, “Subtle Reverie”
Maria Ma, 13, is a dedicated young pianist with about 9 years of music background. As a young composer, she dedicated focused on a romantic-style piano piece, showcasing her passion for music. She is writing a piece for violin, cello, and piano, blending her creativity with technical skill. Maria’s curiosity and dedication drive her to excel in music and academics, shaping her into a promising young musician and thinker. Beyond piano, she enjoys exploring math, business, and science.
Tejo Madhavarapu, “Joy and Sadness”
Rosalind Selby, “Spring Dance”
Rosalind Selby composed ‘Spring Dance’ and performed it at a school assembly. She is in Year 7 and has been composing music for several years, and was commended in 2023 and highly commended in 2024 in the Bach Choir’s annual Sir David Wilcocks Carol Competitions (under 18 section). Besides musical composition, Rosalind also enjoys ballet, baking and programming. She lives in the UK with her parents and Coco the cat.
Spring Dance
