Commissioned Sonatina Award
Call for Student Composers!
$750 Award for Student Composer of WSMTA Teacher
Seattle Music Teachers Association launched The Marsha Wright
Commissioned Sonatina Award as a means to support student and teacher
composers and encourage composition of new sonatinas. The award
alternates between WSMTA teachers in odd-numbered years and student
composers in even-numbered years. This season we will choose an
original composition from a student (age 18 or younger on the application
due date) of a WSMTA member. The award is $750.
We are looking for an early-intermediate level sonatina for solo or
combination of instruments. A nod to traditional sonata-allegro form is
welcome but not necessary. Any brief work in several movements will
qualify as a sonatina.
Deadline for submission of the completed composition is January 9,
2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT
Send the following by January 9, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT to smtaoffice@gmail.com:
1. An email listing student's full name, age, email, phone number, and the name and email address of their teacher. The teacher must be a member of WSMTA. Please put Sonatina Festival Commission Submission in
the subject line.
2. A PDF file of the original completed composition. Please do not include any identifying information
in the document itself. (Compositions will be renamed by random
number assignment in order to ensure anonymity before being
reviewed.)
3. MP3 or WAV audio file.
The selection panel will announce the winning composer on February 2nd. Samples of
their sonatina will be posted on the SMTA website shortly after. The new sonatina will be premiered at The
Marsha Wright Sonatina Festival on April 26, 2026. The composer may be
asked to perform part or all of their piece, or provide someone else to
perform it.
Suggestions/guidelines for an early-intermediate level piece:
Have a friend who plays the instrument try the composition before
submission.
Pay attention to concepts such as: When does a flute player need to breathe? How do violin players use bowing to shape the phrase?
Limit the key signature to 1 or 2 sharps or flats.
Meters: compound time such as 6/8 is OK.
Piano: compare to a Clementi sonatina
Violin/Viola: compare to Suzuki Volume 3
First and Third positions; Pitch range: Violin - low G (open G) to the D 2.5
octaves above that. Viola - same only a fifth lower.
Flute: Compare to ABRSM Grade 5 or below
Pitch range: low D below staff to high F above staff (just over 2 octave
range). Flute is softer in the low register and louder in the high register.
The award is named in honor of Marsha Wright, the Sonatina Festival’s
founder and is supported by a generous gift from Dorothy Woodcock.
Previous Winners:
2019: Katie Levine, SMTA Teacher/composer
2020: Rachael S. Kim, student of WSMTA teacher Sharon Van Valin
2021: Louise (Liz) Nedela, teacher member of the Clark County WSMTA Chapter
2022: Jeanne Park, student of WSMTA teacher Sharon Van Valin
2023: Nathan Campbell, WSMTA teacher/composer
2024: Nathan Zhao, student of Dr. Peter Mack, NCTM, SMTA Chapter
2025: Jeff Moidel, SMTA Teacher/composer