Music Composition Showcase Rules

Overview

The Advanced Media Entertainment Society (AMES) is proud to offer high school students in comprehensive or skill center programs the opportunity to compete in a Music Composition Showcase. This competition celebrates student creativity in song production, arrangement, and original composition.

Rubric

Dates

  • Starting Date: March 9, 2026, 7:00 PM
  • Final Team Selection / Projects Due: May 7, 2026, 7:00 PM
  • Showcase Date: May 17, 2026, at DigiPen Institute of Technology
  • Showcase Start Time: 10 AM

Eligibility

Students participating in this contest must meet the following conditions:

  • Must be current High School students enrolled in (or who have taken) at least one Audio Production, Music Theory, or equivalent Media Arts course.
  • Students may work in teams of up to five students.
  • Students must have a registered Instructor/Advisor.
  • Contractor Model: Students specializing in sound may act as “independent contractors” for other film or game teams, but their work must be submitted under the Music Composition category for specialized recognition.

Application Materials

Applicants must submit the following items to their instructors by the local due date:

  1. A completed project for review by the Music Advisory Committee.
  2. Instructor Endorsement: Verification that the project was student-produced with no direct teacher assistance and completed within the competition window.
  3. Software & Tools: Include a description of what DAW was used and any additional plugins.
  4. Third-Party Assets: Include a clear delineation of all external resources used, citing any external materials or licensed samples.

Showcase Project Requirements

The project is expected to reflect high professional standards and must be an original composition (lyrical or instrumental).

Deliverables

  1. High-Quality Audio File(s): The final mixed and mastered song(s). Teams may include up to 2 tracks if they are part of a shared soundtrack or album.
  2. DAW Visual Evidence: Labeled screenshots or images of the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) tracks. Show the arrangement of the project and a view of the mixer.
  3. Video Contextualization:
    1. For Game: A short video screen capture (using OBS or similar) showing a clip of the game (no longer than 2 minutes)
    2. For Film/Animation: A video file of the film/animation with audio embedded
  4. Audio Stems: While not required for the initial submission, students must have stems available to provide upon request by judges for verification.

Technical Guidelines

  • Originality Rule: Submissions are evaluated on their originality. Entries that use pre-recorded loops will receive a lower score than entries made entirely by students.
  • One-Shot Samples: Use of legitimate, licensed one-shot drum hits (kick, snare, etc.) is permitted, as students must still build the arrangement manually.
  • Plugins and Presets: Students are welcome to use presets and plugins (e.g., Serum, Vital, Omnisphere) to craft their unique sounds.
  • External Talent: Contributions from non-team members for playing an instrument, singing, etc., are allowed, provided the student team directs the performance and handles all composing and arrangement.
  • Safety Exception: Library sounds for effects that are unsafe or impossible to record (e.g., explosions, gunshots) are permitted if cited.

Method of Submission

Projects should be submitted via an itch.io page or a platform designated by the instructor, no later than the Final Team Selection Date. Incomplete submissions will not be evaluated.

Presentation and Judging

Each project will be evaluated according to the AMES 2026 Composition Competition Rubric, focusing on the theme “Everything Has a Cost.”

  • Evaluation Criteria: Theme/Prompt, Development, Arrangement, Mix, and Style.
  • Q&A Session: During the Showcase, judges will conduct a Q&A with teams to discuss their creative process and verify the originality of the work.

For More Information

If you have further questions about the 2026 Showcase, please contact: Scott Le Duc Email: sleduc@osd.wednet.edu