Tony Clements, Director of the Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop at Humboldt State
University, Arcata, CA, announced the 2010 Composition Contest winners on Monday, February 15, 2010.
John W. N. Palmer from Kingston, Ontario, Canada won the first place prize of US$2000 with his sextet titled Neo-Baroque Suite. Leon Steward, of Castroville, TX, took second place, winning US$1000 for The Invasion of America. The US$500 third place prize was awarded to James Joannesson Kopf of Washington, CA, for The Rupert Suite. Peter Felice, of Monticello, IN received Honorable Mention recognition for Stages of Tragedy.
The contest focused on original works for brass sextet written for college-level players.
Compositions had multiple movements totaling 13 to 15 minutes duration. All qualifying contest
entries were played and evaluated by the workshop coaching staff, professional brass musicians
from the San Francisco Bay Area and Oregon. Amateur musicians will perform this years contest
submissions in a workshop format during the July 2010 Brass Chamber Music Workshop at
Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif.
We have once again added wonderful music to our library, said Clements. I am especially
excited by the strong response of composers to our call to create new music for brass ensembles.
Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to all the fine composers who submitted works.
Please look for our announcement of the 2011 contest this spring.
The Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop is held each summer in two one-week sessions.
2010 sessions are scheduled for July 18-24 and July 25-July 31. Activities include: daily chamber
ensemble rehearsals coached by some of the West Coasts finest brass musicians; daily
performances by participants; brass choir reading sessions; abundant freelance playing time;
special-interest sessions on brass-related topics; and spectacular California North Coast scenery.
For further information regarding the Humboldt Brass Chamber Music Workshop or the
Composition Contest visit http://www.humboldt.edu/~extended/special/brass/.