Composition

2023 PTA Reflections Contest and Music Composition

Every year, the PTA Association hosts an arts contest. Students can enter visual arts, photography, musical compositions and more. I like to encourage my students to participate in this event with musical compositions. The theme this year was “I am hopeful. . . .” One of my students, Bailey Huff, wrote this piece and explained its inspiration below. I loved the thought she put into her piece and the symbolism of her music choices. Congratulations to Sloan Frischknecht and Leo Kinney who also participated in this year’s reflections contest.



Student Accomplishments 2019-20

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Fall Festival

Underlined and bold means superior from both judges. 

Jack McNair, Bradley McMullin, Qing Shuang Downing, Quinn Downing, Adam Baker, Lawrence Madi, Peter Hinckley, Jake Understein, Sam Youkeles, Walker Schmidt, Henry McMullin, Sloane Dorotheo, Ellie Cox

PTA Reflections Composition Contest

2019:  Peter Hinckley-1st place in High School, 1st place in Fairfax County

Alma Grayce Miller NVMTA Composition Competition

JO LOMBARD AWARD 2nd PLACE ($75), “Soliloquy”

Peter Hinckley

Theory Mastery Day

Students who achieved over 90% in bold, top four scores**, level in parenthesis

Jake Understein (1B)**, Ellie Cox (1B)**, Myla McNair (2B)** Sam Youkeles (7)**, Lawrence Madi(3A), Walker Schmidt (6), Qing Shuang Downing (4), Sloane Dorotheo (4), Jack McNair (5), Katie Dinkelman (5), Henry McMullin (4), Bradley McMullin (8), Adam Baker (6), Peter Hinckley (6), Liam Carey (6)

Bach/Baroque

Student who achieved superior in bold

Bradley McMullin, Sam Youkeles, Peter Hinckley, Henry McMullin, Jake Understein, 

Qing Shuang Downing, Lawrence Madi, Quinn Downing

Solo Recitals

Elizabeth Zuckerman, Lawrence Madi, Dot Chan

Sonata Festival

Students (in bold) were chosen for second round to be considered for Honor’s Recital

Lawrence Madi, Liam Carey, Jake Understein

Sam Youkeles, Henry McMullin, Sloane Dorotheo, Qing Shuang Downing, Quinn Downing, Peter Hinckley, Cameron Ake, Bradley McMullin, Jack McNair

40 Challenge

Henry (100), Elizabeth (91), Bradley (79), Lawrence (55), Peter (52), Jake Understein (40)

Student Accomplishments 2018-2019

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2018-2019

Fall Festival

Event sponsored by NVMTA. The requirements include two memorized pieces one of which must demonstrate contemporary compositional techniques.

Underlined and bold means superior from both judges.

Adam Baker, Zaria Bartel, Ellie Cox, Sloane Dorotheo, Qing Shuang Downing, Quinn Downing, Peter Hinckley, Lawrence Madi, Bradley McMullin, Henry McMullin, Jack McNair, Myla McNair, Walker Schmidt, Sam Youkeles


PTA Reflections Composition Contest

Annual event sponsored by the Parent Teacher Association and run through the local schools.

Peter Hinckley-1st place in Middle School, 1st place in District, 1st place in VA State and competed at the National Level with “SuperHero”


Alma Grayce Miller Composition Contest and Honor’s Recital

An NVMTA event. Students enter their original compositions. Prizes include cash, and an opportunity to have their piece performed by the McLean Symphony if chosen.

Peter Hinckley earned Special Recognition for his piece “SuperHero”

Quinn Downing earned Honorable Mention for his piece, “Altered Reflection”.


Theory Mastery Day

Virginia Music Teachers Association event with 16 levels of graded, written tests include aural exams.

Students who achieved over 90% in bold, top three scores **

Ellie Cox (1A), Myla McNair (2A)**, Lawrence Madi (2B), Zaria Bartell (3A),Sloane Dorotheo (3B), Quinn Downing (3B), Qing Shuang Downing (3B), Henry McMullin (3B), Katie Dinkelman (4), Jack McNair (4), Peter Hinckley (5)**, Walker Schmidt (5), Sam Youkeles (6)**, Adam Baker (6), Bradley McMullin (7)


Bach/Baroque

NVMTA event where students perform one piece by J.S. Bach and another by him or a different Baroque Composer. Students can play their pieces on a harpsichord. There are honor’s recitals for this event if chosen.

Student who achieved superior in bold.  Called for 2nd Round*

Bradley McMullin*, Adam Baker, Sam Youkeles, Peter Hinckley*, Lawrence Madi,, Henry McMullin, Quinn Downing, Qing Shuang Downing


Piano Concerto Festival

NVMTA event, Very competitive event with 1st, 2nd, 3rd awards.

Henry McMullin, Bradley McMullin

Others who learned concertos this year:  Qing Shuang Downing, Sam Youkeles, Terry Burridge


Piano Ensemble Festival

NVMTA event where students prepare duets or duos (2 pianos) and perform for judges either in festival (comments only, requires one piece) or competition (requires two pieces).

Bradley McMullin and Adam Baker


40 Challenge

Studio event. We document all pieces passed off during the year. In 2018-2019, I noticed a trend: a group of students who passed off 20-25 pieces in a year and a group that passed off over 40.

Recommended practice time to meet this goal is 5 days of practice for at least the length of your lesson.

Ellie Cox (81), Henry McMullin (70), Adam Baker (54), Lawrence Madi (48), Terry Burridge (45), Bradley McMullin (41), Peter Hinckley (40)

First Recital

Congratulations!

Elizabeth Zuckerman and Kyla Dorotheo