PAS Percussion Ensemble Competition and Festival
Starting in 2024, the Percussive Arts Society will present/co-present five in-person percussion ensemble competitions and festivals around the United States for high school and middle school students.
Give your students this incredible opportunity to perform, receive invaluable feedback, and connect with their peers at one of these locations.
Composition Contest
Funded by the Thomas V. Siwe Endowment
To encourage and reward composers who write music for percussion instruments and to increase the number of quality compositions written for percussion.
2023 Competition:
“Footprint” composition written for six percussionists.
A “footprint” composition is defined as a composition that utilizes the instrumentation and setup of a previously recognized composition. The setup and choice of instruments will follow a “footprint” from the time-honored work: “Toccata” by Carlos Chávez (1942). Choosing subject and instrumentation from this piece offers composers a suggested model for their consideration and encourages smooth flow of concerts by minimizing instrument movement. The composition should be for a total of six percussionists using specified diverse groups of pitched and nonpitched percussion instruments. Limited additions or deletions of instrumental timbres are acceptable as long as the basic “footprint” of instruments is maintained. This new composition does not have to compliment or build upon the original “Toccata.” Composers are encouraged to explore the melodic and unique timbral aspects and to search out innovative approaches to utilizing these instruments.
Awards:
- $3,000 grand prize (up to two honorable mentions – $250.00 each). Additional pieces may be acknowledged by the judges due to their quality. These pieces will not receive financial awards.
- Winning composition, Honorable mention(s), and additional pieces selected by the judges will be listed on the PAS website with composer’s picture and bio.
- Winning composition and Honorable mention(s) will be listed along with review of work(s) in Percussive Notes during early 2023.
International Percussion Ensemble Competition
The purpose of the Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition is to encourage, promote and reward musical excellence among middle school/junior high, high school and collegiate percussion ensembles.
Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition
The purpose of the Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition is provide a competitive avenue for collegiate and high school-level small "concert" percussion ensembles (8 members max).