The Huntsville Youth Orchestra is now accepting submissions for their Annual Young Composers Forum at the Tennessee Valley Music Festival, June 7–13, 2026 in Huntsville, Alabama. Winning submissions will be rehearsed daily and performed by the TVMF Festival Orchestra at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville, AL. Composers will also participate in a variety of sessions hosted by TVMF Resident Composer Robert J. Bradshaw.

Winning composers will be notified beginning MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026, and must accept or decline their position in the Forum by 5:00PM EST, FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026. Composers must be prepared to supply a PDF of the complete full score and parts when requested and are required to attend the Tennessee Valley Music Festival’s Young Composers’ Forum, JUNE 7-13, 2026.

Eligibility

  • Composers ages 16–22

Application Materials

  • Cover letter explaining why this opportunity would be valuable for you.
  • CV/Résumé (PDF containing name, date of birth, email address, phone number, current school/composition teacher if applicable).
  • List of compositions.
  • List of performances, if any, of submitted work (include dates and performer information).
  • Complete full score of submitted composition (PDF) with recording (mp3, MIDI mockup is permitted)

Composition Requirements

  • Maximum Duration: Seven (7) minutes.
  • Maximum Instrumentation (no concertos or electronics): 3 flutes (piccolo), 2 oboes, 3 clarinets (bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani (limit 4), 3 percussion*, harp, and strings (vl1, vl2, va, vc, cb).
    • Mallet percussion is limited to tubular bells (chimes), xylophone, and glockenspiel.
    • Any combination of winds, brass, and percussion will be accepted, but all works must include strings.

Recording Rights

The composer retains all rights to their submitted piece as well as the recording.

Festival Housing

Housing is provided. Transportation must be arranged by the selected applicants, but can be coordinated with the festival from Huntsville International Airport.

Submit Entries to: mail@robertjbradshaw.com CC: info@hsvyo.org