Edmonton Composers Competition

The Edmonton Composers Competition is an annual competition run in collaboration with the Johann Strauss Foundation. Artists are called to enter original compositions for a chance to win a prize of $500.

The Edmonton Pops Orchestra then premieres the winning composition at the Johann Strauss Ball which celebrates and supports music excellence in Alberta.

Composers Workshop with Claude Lapalme

We are pleased to be hosting a composers workshop with Claude Lapalme, a Juno Award-winning conductor who has served Music Director of the Red Deer Symphony since 1990.

Claude will offer practical guidance on writing and arranging for orchestras with playability and clarity in mind. The workshop is recommended for anyone interested in entering the Edmonton Composers Competition, particularly for composers who are not from a classical background.

The workshop will take place on Saturday, March 14 from 1 – 3:30pm MT. Registration is $35.

Register for Workshop

Guidelines

  • Instrumentation – Your entry must be written for an orchestral ensemble. The available instruments are below, however you do not have to make use of every instrument.

  • Length – Approximately 3 – 5 minutes in length.

  • Style / Genre – Compositions of any style / genre will be accepted. The winning composition will be presented at the Strauss Ball, but this does not mean it needs to conform to conventional expectations of that setting.

  • Criteria – The winning piece will be decided on quality of melody and harmony, integrity and thoughtfulness of orchestration, presence of storytelling, and playability.

Instruments

  • Strings – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

  • Woodwinds – Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon (1 of each)

  • Brass – French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone (1 of each)

  • Percussion – Bass Drum, Snare, Cymbals or Drum Kit, Timpani, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Auxiliary (2 percussionists)

  • Keyboard – Piano, Harp, Celeste, (can extend with additional sound libraries)

Prize

  • Cash – The winning composer will receive a cash prize of $500!

  • Recording – The Edmonton Pops Orchestra will produce an audio recording of the composition.

  • Premiere – The winning composition will be presented at the next Johann Strauss Ball. It will be presented as an original composition and is not necessarily meant to be danced to.

  • Feedback – All submissions will receive feedback from a panel of composers and musicians.

Enter

Enter the competition by filling out the form below. The application deadline is 11:59pm MT on March 31.

Past Winners

Congratulations to Gregory Parth for winning the latest edition of the Edmonton Composers Competition! The Edmonton Pops Orchestra premiered his piece “Waltz Macabre” at the Johann Strauss Foundation Ball in April 2025.

Congratulations to Mari Alice Conrad for winning the latest edition of the Edmonton Composers Competition! The Edmonton Pops Orchestra premiered her piece “Atalanta’s Race: The Forest” at the Johann Strauss Foundation Ball in April 2024.

Vivian Kwok won the Edmonton Composers Competition in 2023! We performed her piece at the Johan Strauss Ball in April 2023 and presented an official certificate to her family in attendance.

3T7A0645.jpg

Fabio Henao Caviedes won the Edmonton Composers Competition in 2019. We premiered his original waltz in February 2020, supported by Audi Edmonton North!