Symphonic Storytime

Winning submissions

Hello, Composers!

We are now ready with the ten winning submissions for Symphonic Storytime!

This webpage contains the winning stories, in no particular order. Please look through them and choose the one that you would like to write music for, then “reply to all” on the email you found this link on with your selection(s) so that the other composers can see which stories have been spoken for. We’ll take down those stories from this list as they are claimed, as well. We’re hoping this won’t be too chaotic, but we wanted everyone to get a chance to choose a story that they really connect with, or that would show off your favorite writing techniques and styles.

Composition Guidelines for Composers

  • Our deadline for turning in compositions is July 1st. If you would like to send your scores for feedback before that date, please feel free!

  • We have more stories than composers, so if you feel compelled to (and have the time), please choose two stories to write for.

  • Compositions do not have any required length but should not exceed 6 minutes.

  • Compositions must include a spoken component that incorporates the child's written words and dialogue from their short story. This can be in the form of readings before or during the composition. The spoken components are to be read by the instrumentalists.

  • Compositions should be for standard woodwind quintet instrumentation (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn in F, bassoon) but can include the following instrument doubling combinations if the composer desires:

    • flute / piccolo

    • oboe / English horn

    • clarinet / clarinet in A

  • Compositions must be scored in standard musical notation and include both a score and parts upon completion.

  • Of course, reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Music Difficulty: The players you are writing for are all very capable on their instruments but keep in mind they will only have one long rehearsal session together to prepare the music after it is completed, so please aim for music that is both compositionally interesting and playable on a short rehearsal schedule.

Katie Goes to the Park

Once there was a girl named Katie who loved adventures.
She always had things to do like going to see the dragon in the tower that the prince Edguard ( her brother ) trapped or help the queen (her mom) by finishing all her boring chores, but today was different.She woke up and her mind went blank. Princess Katie usually had about 500 things in her brain that she could do, but today she did not. She was surprised, but then she had one thing in mind; go downstairs and get breakfast. So, she got dressed, combed her hair, and went downstairs.

When Katie went downstairs, she smelled something delicious. It smelled like pancakes and bacon (mmmm delicious). Katie sat down and ate breakfast, which by the way tasted like heaven. After breakfast Katie told her mom something that she had never told her before, “ I don’t know what to do today.” “WHAT!?” Her mom was flabbergasted. Katie’s dad heard Katie’s mom so he came down. Her mom told him what was happening, and his face told everything; he was absolutely flabbergasted. After a while her dad said, “How about we go to the park today? We can get ice cream ” Katie’s eyes lit up. Of Course; she loved the park and ice cream (yum!) . She put on her shoes and left for the park.

There she saw her best friend Heather. Katie ran to her and said, “want to play ?” “YESSSS!” Heather said. They went down the slide screaming “AHHHHHHHHH!!!!” They played tag (Heather lost ). They played on the swings. Lastly they ate ICE CREAM! It was like biting into heaven. Katie got cotton candy and Heather got chocolate chip. After they ate ice cream, Katie and Heather went home and had a sleepover. They had the best time ever and the day that started as a boring day became the best day ever for Katie.