OMMS student wins category at Young Composers Competition

Paisley Smith, an eighth-grade student at Oak Mountain Middle School, was recently announced as a grade-level winner of the Young Composers Competition sponsored by the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA). 

Smith was one of six students from grades 8-12 across to be named a finalist in the competition.

Smith joined the other finalists at the AMEA’s annual conference awards ceremony Jan. 18 in Birmingham, where she was presented with a plaque for her accomplishment.

The competition requirements were that students had to compose a solo, song, string quartet, concerto or any medium of choice in one of five categories. Students had to submit an original score to the judging panel in either handwritten or electronic format. 

Smith won in Category B with a duet she composed for clarinet and tenor saxophone entitled “Arran.”

The Young Composers Competition was created to encourage Alabama’s developing student composers by providing professional level review and consideration. 

By recognizing outstanding student compositions, this process will support Alabama music teachers by recognizing their efforts to incorporate national standards. It also provides a showcase for the composition talents of these young Alabama musicians.

‒ Submitted by Cindy Warner.