Commissioned Composer

MMTA Commissioned Composer Award

The Missouri Music Teachers Association is pleased to announce a call for scores for the annual MMTA Composer Commission Competition. Professional composers and talented students are encouraged to apply.

The winner will compose and coordinate the premiere of a new work for the Missouri Music Teachers Association State Conference in November 2026.

Award Information

• Monetary prize of $1500, to be awarded after the completion of the premiere performance.
• Composers are responsible for securing performers for the premiere.
• The winning composer may apply for additional funding from MMTA to assist with securing performers. Additional funds are not guaranteed and subject to MMTA Board approval.
• The winning composer will submit their commissioned work to the MTNA competition (at the national level) to compete for the Distinguished Composer of the Year award.
• If the MMTA Commissioned Composer wins at the national level, their work will be performed at the 2025 MTNA National Conference, and they will receive a prize of $5000, to be presented following the performance at the National Conference.
• MTNA and MMTA are not responsible for defraying expenses incurred from composer’s travels to MMTA and/or MTNA conference premieres.
• The composer will discuss instrumentation and other details of the commission with the MMTA Composition Chair and the MMTA Board.

Applicant Eligibility

• Applicants must be based in the state of Missouri at the time of application.
• Applicants may be out-of-state students and those on temporary or long-term visas.
• Applicants must be current legal residents of the United States.
• Previous winners may re-apply but must wait at least one year after receiving a commission.

Submission Guidelines

• There are no fees for the application.
• By September 26, 2025, 11:59 PM CST, email two anonymous scores (PDF) and recordings (MP3/AAC) to Dr. Luke Carlson, MMTA VP for Auditions & Composition Chair, at (info[at]missourimta[dot]org).
• The scores should represent the composer’s best work and can be of any instrumentation or length.
• The winning composer will be notified by November and have approximately 12 months to complete the commission for the 2025 MMTA State Conference.

Please contact the MMTA Composition Chair, Dr. Luke Carlson, with any questions (info[at]missourimta[dot]org).

Past Commissioned Composers

In 1962 MMTA established a program of commissioning works by Missouri composers; the first such commission was awarded to Merrill Ellis, a former president of the Association. Commissioned compositions are performed at the MMTA state conference each year: