2019 SMP PRESSCOMPOSITION COMPETITION
Recognizing the best music published on SMP Press
More than $10,000 to be awarded
Judged by editors and authors from top music publishers
Popular Music
Choir
Instrumental Ensemble
Solo
Contemporary Music
CHOIR
LARGE INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
SMALL INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
SOLO
Sacred Music
CHORAL
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
SOLO

Popular Music
SUBMISSION PERIOD
February 15 - April 30, 2019
Submit your Copyrighted Song arrangements on SMP Press
QUALIFYING SALES PERIOD
May 1 - May 31, 2019
Sell your Copyrighted Song arrangements on Sheet Music Plus. By meeting or exceeding the sales minimum during the sales period, you automatically qualify for judging.
Sales Minimums:
- Choral: $40
- Instrumental ensemble: $25
- Solo: $15
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
July 15, 2019
ONE WINNER IN EACH CATEGORY
CHORAL
$800INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
$800SOLO
$500FOUR RUNNERS-UP IN EACH CATEGORY: $100 EACH
WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP
CHORAL
Winner
So May It Secretly Begin -- Gerhard Guter
Runners-Up
I Got Rhythm - SATB a cappella unaccompanied mixed choir -- Dorothy Horn
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
Winner
Seven Nation Army - in the style of Postmodern Jukebox -- Kevin P. Holt
Runners-Up
Shallow String Quartet -- Benton Wedge
Rhapsody In Blue for Clarinet Quartet -- Craig Buying
Over The Rainbow (from The Wizard Of Oz) -- Benedikt Brydern

Contemporary Music
SUBMISSION PERIOD
February 15 - July 31, 2019
Submit your original compositions and public domain arrangements on SMP Press
QUALIFYING SALES PERIOD
August 1 - September 30, 2019
Sell your original compositions and public domain arrangements on Sheet Music Plus. By meeting or exceeding the sales minimum during the sales period, you automatically qualify for judging.
Sales Minimums:
- Choral: $35
- Large instrumental ensemble: $30
- Small instrumental ensemble: $15
- Solo: $15
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
November 15, 2019
WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP
CHORAL
Winner
Runners-Up
In Galilaea est Dominus -- Stéphan Nicolay
Ave Verum Corpus -- Daniel Elder
LARGE INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
Winner
Klezmer Concerto - for clarinet, strings, harp, and percussion -- Ofer Ben-Amots
Runners-Up
Mar Que Fala Português -- Gilson Santos
Zembaloo - Grade 3.5 -- Ilari Hylkilä
SMALL INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
Winner
Waltzing Matilda -- Stephan Koncz
Runners-Up
Washington Post (for Jazz Ensemble) -- Kenneth Abeling
Fireflies - Trio -- Herman Beeftink
SOLO
Winner
Wǔ Xíng - Sonata for Five Elements (alto saxophone and piano) -- Jeffrey Hoover
Runners-Up
Gregorian Modes - 7 Little Pieces In Church Modes For Piano -- Sebastian Freisleben
Six quiet pieces for organ -- Natalia Jespersen
Becoming: Suite for Solo Piano in Seven Movements -- Amy Stephens

Sacred Music
SUBMISSION PERIOD
February 15 - July 31, 2019
Submit your sacred compositions on SMP Press.
QUALIFYING SALES PERIOD
August 1 - September 30, 2019
Sell your sacred compositions on Sheet Music Plus. By meeting or exceeding the sales minimum during the sales period, you automatically qualify for judging.
Sales Minimums:
- Choral: $35
- Instrumental ensemble: $15
- Solo: $15
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
November 15, 2019
WINNERS & RUNNERS-UP
CHORAL
Winner
I See His Blood upon the Rose -- Shelton Ridge Love
Runners-Up
Rejoice! The Lord Is King -- Shelton Ridge Love
It Is Well With My Soul -- David P. Zimmerman
My Aspirations of Entrustment Ⅱ (내맡김의 화살기도 II) -- Karl Kang
The Animal Alleluia - A Christmas Musical For Children -- Joanna Mills
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
Winner
Greensleeves (String Orchestra) -- Matt Riley
Runners-Up
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God -- Shelton Ridge Love
Amazing Grace for saxophone quartet -- Laura M. Kramer
How Sweet The Sound - Hymn Arrangements for Piano Trio -- Evelyn R. Larter
Additional Awards
TOP SELLER AWARDS
The publisher with the highest sales in each competition category during the qualifying sales period:
Popular Music
Song for the Lonely -- David Maddux
Contemporary Music
Waltzing Matilda -- Stephan Koncz
Sacred Music
Amazing Grace -- Daniel Chadburn
How To Participate
01
Publish your work on SMP Press before the submission deadlines.
02
Sell your work on Sheet Music Plus, especially during the qualifying sales periods.
03
Automatically be entered to win.
Terms and Conditions
- The 2019 SMP Press Composition Awards are sponsored by Sheet Music Plus and its digital sheet music self-publishing platform, SMP Press.
- There is no entry fee.
- All submissions must be new items. No existing titles on Sheet Music Plus will be accepted.
- Sheet Music Plus reserves the right to disqualify a title due to copyright concerns, violation of contest terms, content deemed inappropriate, inappropriate pricing (for example, a set of score and parts totaling 100 pages for $12.99), or any other reason.
- All titles associated with this contest are subject to our SMP Press Terms and Conditions.
- This contest is open to composers and arrangers of all ages.
- There are no geographical restrictions for this contest.
- Composers can enter titles in more than one category to increase chances of winning.
- Closing date for popular music entries will be: April 30, 2019, 11:59pm PST. Closing date for contemporary classical music entries and sacred music entries will be: July 31, 2019, 11:59pm PST. After these dates no further entries to this competition will be permitted.
- No responsibility can be accepted for entries not accepted for whatever reason.
- The sponsors reserve the right to cancel or amend the contest and these terms and conditions. Any changes to the contest will be notified to entrants as possible by Sheet Music Plus.
- “Solo” refers to music written for solo instrument or voice and can include accompaniment by piano, guitar, piano/guitar or organ. In the popular music category, “instrumental ensemble” refers to music written for groups of instruments from duets through ensembles, except concert band, marching band, full orchestra and string orchestra. In the contemporary music category, “large ensemble” specifically refers to concert band, marching band, full orchestra and string orchestra, while “small ensemble” includes all other instrumental ensemble combinations. In the sacred music category,” instrumental ensemble refers to music written for all groups of instruments from duets through band and orchestra.
- To qualify for judging, titles must meet or exceed sales minimums during the qualifying sales periods. Popular music titles must meet or exceed the following sales levels between May 1, 2019 and May 31, 2019: (1) choral: $40, (2) instrumental ensemble: $25, (3) solo: $15. Contemporary music titles must meet or exceed the following sales levels between August 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019: (1) choral: $35, (2) large instrumental ensemble: $30, (3) small instrumental ensemble: $15, (4) solo: $15. Sacred music titles must meet or exceed the following sales levels between August 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019: (1) choral: $35, (2) instrumental ensemble: $15, (3) solo: $15. Only contest entries purchased by someone other than the entrant or the entrant's immediate family members will count towards total sales.
- Category winners will be determined by editorial review conducted by publishing house partners: Hal Leonard in the popular music division, Universal Edition in the contemporary music division, and The Lorenz Company in the sacred music division.
- The winner of the Influencer Award will be determined by a combination of impression and engagement metrics, as well as creativity in the use of #smppress hashtag across Facebook and Twitter. To be considered, posts must be made before September 30, 2019, and metrics must be achieved by November 8, 2019.
- The Top Seller Awards will be given to the publisher with the highest total revenue across each category during the qualifying sales period: (1) popular music: May 1, 2019 - May 31, 2019, (2) contemporary music: August 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019, (3) sacred music: August 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019.
- All judging decisions are final.
- Winners will be notified as soon as possible. The sponsors reserve the right to extend the review period if more time is needed to select a winner.
- The winners agree to use of his/her names and images in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the winner or other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current privacy law.
- This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social network. You are providing your information to Sheet Music Plus, and its service SMP Press.