MusicTeacherGifts.com 9th Music Competition (previously ViolettesbyBecky)
2022 Compositions by Ages 10 to 14 Entries - Distinguished Judges are Daniel Felsenfeld and Soomin Kim
First Place - Nathanael Koh Second Place - Nikka Gershman-Pepper
Piano 1st Place - Campbell Leiloglou Honorable Mention - Tyler Cummins, Benjamin Barish
I, Becky Chaffee, get frustrated that the competition isn’t large enough to have instrumentation categories (and more age divisions), so with several solo piano entries for this age group, I asked the judges to choose a solo piano composition for an additional award.
Note that I am proud that both already highly distinguished 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 love to hear the student work.
This competition is the work of myself, Becky, through my music gift shop, MusicTeacherGifts.com. I create everything sold on this website, and hope that you will purchase gifts here for your teachers and friends to support this project. My time is volunteer work. There are many, many unseen hours that I pour into this competition in addition to finding the wonderful volunteer judges, and donating the prize money with the help of Performers Music of Chicago and SheetMusicPlus.com. Please look up the work of these amazing judges, and give our sponsors your business. Thank you.
In addition to violin, cello, guitar and piano purses, music stickers…, my most recent creations are these two books to encourage practicing. They are great gifts for a teacher studio, music classroom or any age student. Find book related gifts too, such as music lesson prints, T-shirts, note cards, pillows. Have Fun With Your Music is a new concept for a book for young music students to laugh and think. It encourages students to make practicing their own. Click on Book Photos on right to Purchase.
Practice smarter for all ages and levels with stories quoted from great musicians.
Find Youth Compositions from ages 15 - 16 HERE, and from ages 17 and 18 HERE.
Presentation of 2022 Composition Entries, ages 10 - 14
Winners are presented first, but after that, the presentation is in no particular order. I consider all the students to be winners!
Nathanael Koh, “The Circus Suite”
Nathanael Koh B.Y. Nathanael is a MENSA member and St John Youth Cadet (New Zealand) who has perfect pitch and loves the great scenic outdoors. As a budding composer, these provided inspiration for him to compose music. At age 9, Nathanael attained the Trinity Diploma in Music Theory, UK (AMusTCL), Licentiate Diploma in Music Composition (Australia) and ABRSM Grade 8 Music Theory. Recognizing his talent in Music, the Ministry of Education (New Zealand) presented him with the Gifted Learner Award in 2019 and 2020. He is the youngest composer who was selected as the top 10 finalists of The Commonwealth International Composition Award in 2019. As one of the finalists, his contemporary piece, Perceptions of Pi, was performed in the Princess Alexandra Hall, Royal Overseas League, London. In the same year, he has been given the rare privilege of being appointed as the Composer-in-Residence for the Kids’ Philharmonic Orchestra in Singapore where his piece, Tea Party/Vorfreude, was performed by a full orchestra at the Victoria Concert Hall on 22 December 2019. In Apr 2020, he composed HOPE to bring together all the musicians to thank those working at the frontlines or staying at home, doing their part in preventing the spread of Covid-19. This piece was written to represent our resilience and triumph in the face of this unprecedented adversity. New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern wrote him a letter to thank him for the music. In Dec 2020, the National Arts Council Singapore, supported 2 concerts under the Digital Presentation Grant, in which 5 of Nathanael’s compositions were performed. In 2020, he was the top 10 finalists in the Commonwealth Composition Competition, where his piece, ‘Mutation’ reached over 1000 views. As the top 10 finalists in the Commonwealth International Composition Award 2020, his piece, ‘Dance Craze’ was awarded ‘Special Mention’ and was performed in London in May 2020. As an award winner for the Golden Key Piano Composition Competition 2021, Nathanael’s piece ‘The Elusive Fox’ will be performed in Vienna, June 2022. He is the youngest member of Composers Society of Singapore and COMPASS.
Nikka Greshman-Pepper, “Respiro”
Described as “without question one of the finest and most dedicated young flute soloists” by Mike Green, the President of the Grammy Foundation, Nikka Gershman-Pepper is a 14-year-old flutist and composer. She is honored to be the youngest ever Haynes Young Artist. Nikka is currently attending the Pre-Conservatory Program at the Colburn Music Academy under the mentorship of the legendary Jim Walker.
At age six she discovered her love for music, and a year later, she performed with the Emmy-winning Honor’s Orchestra at UCLA Schoenberg Music Hall Concert where she was offered the position of principal flute in The All-Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra. Subsequently, she has been accepted as a soloist in the LA Youth Philharmonic for the 2019 Music Festival Concert at The Walt Disney Concert Hall and Colburn’s Zipper Hall.
Nikka is a first-prize winner in numerous competitions including the 2022 Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA) national winner, British Flute Society International Young Performer Competition (BFS), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artists’ Concerto Competition, Rising Stars Grand Prix (Berlin), Flutes by the Sea International Competition, Chicago Flute Club (Senior Division), the Los Angeles division of Music International Grand Prix, concerto soloist for the Whittier Regional Symphony, International Music Competition Bonn "Grand Prize Virtuoso", and New York Young Virtuoso Competition. In 2022, Nikka was the youngest in the history of the Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition to win the Grand Prize for Exceptional Talent and Musicianship Award over all categories, judged by a panel of esteemed LA Philharmonic members. She has been chosen to perform in masterclasses with distinguished artists, including Sir James Galway, Carol Wincenc, Denis Bouriakov, Lorna McGhee, Andrea Griminelli, Emily Beynon, Viviana Guzman, Garrett Hudson, and Ransom Wilson. Nikka is a recipient of a Sir James Galway Merit Scholarship Award to attend the Galway Flute Festival 2022.
Nikka’s solo concerts include performances at the Beethoven House, Bonn, Germany, VOS with the LA Jewish Symphony premiering her original composition, New York at the Salon de Virtuosi winter concert, Skyview Concert Hall with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz with the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra. She has been interviewed by The Flute View magazine and featured by The Violin Channel. In February 2022, Nikka was a guest performer on NPR’s From the Top National Public Radio station, showcasing the most promising young musicians.
Community outreach is extremely important to Nikka, and she is dedicated to inspiring young audiences and bringing her music to underserved communities. In 2021, Nikka was named an ambassador to Music to Save Humanity Mentorship and Outreach Program. As a From the Top Fellow, she performed for the Colorado Children’s Hospital facilitated by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
Campbell Leiloglou, “The Wastelands”
Campbell Leiloglou is a fourteen-year-old homeschool student who enjoys piano and drawing. His compositions have received honorable mention in the 2019 TMTA Original Composition Contest and also in the 7th Annual Violettes by Becky Youth Music Composition Competition, under 15 division.
Benjamin Barish, “Rainy Day”
Ben Barish is a ten-year-old pianist, violinist and composer from New York. He loves to study and create music, and his favorite compositions have been inspired by the wonders of the natural world. He has been part of the musical cast in La Boheme and Iolanthe, performed by the Amore opera company in New York City. He was the winner of the Reflections song-writing prize for New York State in 2020, and he was a 2020 finalist in the national PTA song-writing contest.
Tyler Cummins, “Finch’s Flight School”
At 13 years old, Tyler Cummins is an aspiring composer who also excels at piano, clarinet, and music production. He is inspired by both the emotional content of music and the brilliant patterns of rhythms and tones. When Tyler is not engaging in musical creations, he can be found studying advanced mathematics because of his love of logical reasoning, patterns, and relationships.
Kyle Weidemaier, ”Small Dreams”
Kyle Weidemaier is a 12 year old from Raleigh, North Carolina. He plays both piano and trumpet, but it is the piano that he really loves. While Kyle has played the piano for 4 years, he only started composing last year during the pandemic. Kyle lives in Raleigh with his family and 2 dogs (Finn and Riker).
Ivy Xu, “Ze Attack of the Aliens”
Ivy Xu, a 12-year-old seventh grader, from Rachel Carson Middle School, Fairfax, Virginia, found her passion for writing music during the pandemic. Music has helped her get through the Covid 19. After school, she enjoys playing violin, drawing, basketball, math, reading and walking.
Ezekiel Velasquez, “Are You There?”
Ezekiel Velasquez is 10 years old and lives in South Carolina. He plays the cello, piano, drums, and the guitar. He also qualified for gifted music classes at his elementary school. He has written 8 songs mostly on the piano and guitar, and especially enjoys writing gospel music. He and his sisters play and sing at the church where his father is a minister. Of his song, “Are You There?” he says, “This song talks about when you pray to God, and you feel like [He] doesn’t hear you…..But….God sacrificed his life for you because He loves you.”
Colvin Davis, “The Supernova”
Colvin Davis is twelve years old and lives in San Diego, California with his parents and sister. He started playing the piano when he was eight years old and quickly developed a love for the instrument and a passion for creating his own songs. He composes solo piano pieces as well as electronic music. He has released 10 piano and electronic songs through CD Baby to the major music channels. Colvin is homeschooled and enjoys the flexibility this offers him to pursue his music as well as his other interests, which include programming, playing beach tennis, creating Minecraft worlds and mods, and solving challenging puzzles, such as Perplexuses and Rubik’s Cubes. When Colvin grows up, he would like to be a professional pianist and continue composing his own music.
