2026 Barbara Buehlman Prize for Composition Contest Now Open!
This year, the prize will be awarded for a work created for middle school wind band. The purpose of the competition is to encourage and support young composers in crafting works for high school and middle school bands by providing a national venue for performance and recognition. In addition to a $2,000 award, the winning composition will be debuted at the 80th Midwest Clinic in December 2026.
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Contest Details
- Composers should submit a composition appropriate for a middle school wind band, no longer than 4 minutes. No compositions exceeding the maximum duration will be considered.
- Compositions must be completed by one composer. Group compositions will not be accepted.
- Composers must be 34 years of age or younger (birthday on or after 1/1/1992)
- Compositions must not have been published or publicly performed.
- Composers from groups under-represented in music publishing are encouraged to enter.
- Composers must submit scores electronically.
- Synthesized recordings are permissible if no live recording is available.
- The deadline to submit a composition for consideration is January 15, 2026.
- Winning compositions will be announced in mid-March 2026.
- Submissions will be adjudicated by a panel of nationally-recognized composers and conductors.
- Midwest Premiere will be awarded to an ensemble selected to perform at the 2026 Midwest Clinic.
Congratulations to our 2025 Barbara Buehlman Prize for Composition Winner, Joey Stempien, with Montreal at Night!
Joey Stempien (b. 2004) hails from Rochester, NY, where he has established himself as an emerging young voice in jazz and contemporary composition. Having published his first original work for big band at age 17, his unique and visceral affinities for melody and soundscape continue to allure audiences wherever his music is heard. His compositions have been brought to life by the likes of the US Navy Commodores and US Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors, and have been performed by acclaimed soloists including Carlos Eiene, Jon Hatamiya, and Bill Tiberio. He has been commissioned to write original works for school ensembles and consortiums and has taken on work as a video-game composer.
Stempien makes frequent appearances as a clinician with middle and high schools, universities and community ensembles. His experience spans a wide range of areas, from acting as a guest conductor with the Eastman Music Educators’ Wind Ensemble to performing with the GRAMMY-nominated smooth-jazz Jimmie Highsmith Jr. Group. He also acts as a guest conductor, jazz and church pianist, and multi-instrumentalist in pit orchestras and wind ensembles.
While pursuing his B.A. in Music and B.S in Environmental Science at the University of Rochester, he helms the Joey Stempien Big Band, a professional collective of young up-and-coming musicians performing his original music.
2025 Honorable Mention: Owen Meldon, Circlesong
Chicago suburbs-based composer and educator Owen Meldon (b. 2002) believes in writing music that speaks to people and their emotions. His work spans from concert band pieces to studio albums and everywhere in between, each project telling its own story.
As a performer, Owen has played with several Illinois-based ensembles, including the Illinois Wind Symphony and Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and has contributed to several local theater productions as assistant music director. He put together two albums of original music and arrangements as his first venture into music production: Professor Quigley in 2020 and Professor Quigley 2 in 2022. His latest venture, “Talking Words Factory,” is a children's music collective designed to bring a sense of wonder to listeners of all ages.
Teaching has always been close to his heart as well – Owen primarily works with percussion students, fostering an environment where creativity and confidence go hand in hand. Along the way, he’s had the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of talented fellow musicians, including Mark Lettieri (Snarky Puppy), Julian Bliss, Lindsey Kesselman, William Barton, and Dashon Burton (Roomful of Teeth).
Outside of music, you'll find Owen adding to his ever-growing collection of VHS tapes or dominating in online Mario Kart tournaments. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studied under Dr. Stephen Taylor and Dr. Carlos Carrillo in composition, as well as William Moersch and Ricardo Flores in percussion.
This year's contest saw 50+ entries of new compositions for high school wind bands. Thank you to our adjudicators for their incredible work in selecting this year's winner and honorable mention:
David Biedenbender
Composer
Chair of Composition, Michigan State University
Patricia Brumbaugh
Director of Bands (Retired)
Traverse City High School
Andy Sealy
Director of Bands
Hebron High School
Learn about Barbara Buehlman
Thank you to our 2025 Prize Sponsor
