Composition Contest

Congratulations to all of the participants of the Composition Contest! Thank you for sharing your hard work and creativity. Thank you to our judge, Elizabeth Gartman for your gracious feedback!

For a more detailed listing including Honorable Mention students, check out the Composition Contest page. To hear recordings of each participant's piece, please go to our Facebook Page.

Division 2 Winner:   Kalia Wattenford - Troll’s Parade
Student of Shelba DeMaster
Division 3 Winner: Andrew Tiefel - Beyond Sunlight
Student of Erika Moldenhauer

Division 4 Winner: Abbi Heinen - National Parks of the West
Student of Shelba DeMaster

 Division 6 Winner: Marlene Wondergem - Portrait of a Rippling River

About our Judge: Elizabeth Gartman
Elizabeth Gartman is a composer/soprano based in New York City. Her compositions explore vocalism, process in performance, and active listening and response. Elizabeth’s music has been commissioned by the Washington National Opera, New Chamber Ballet, Beth Morrison Projects, Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, InfraSound Ensemble, Ensemble Chemie, Pax Duo, and others. Recent accolades include selection as a composer fellow with American Opera Initiative (2023), the William Schuman Prize for Most Outstanding Score with BMI Student Composer Awards (2021), and Runner Up of Beth Morrison Projects Next Generation (2022). This season, Elizabeth will premiere a one-act opera at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., a full length ballet at Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn, and a choral piece with the NYC Virtuoso Singers. Elizabeth holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music (M.M. Composition 2021) and the University of Illinois (B.M. Vocal Performance, B.M. Composition 2019).
Of special note to Michibago Music Teachers is that Elizabeth graduated from Sheboygan North High School. She participated in many choir and music activities at North High and in the Sheboygan Community.  Perhaps, in the future, some of the composers from this year’s competition will join her in the national and international music scene.