SONOR Orff Composition Contest (2026)

A composition contest for people who write for elementary classroom ensembles, run by SONOR through its US distributor. There is one category, an original piece scored for glockenspiel, two or three xylophone voices with one of them bass xylophone, and non-pitched percussion, with recorder optional. It must run 16 to 32 bars, be written in an elemental style with lyrics that fit the Orff-Schulwerk process, and be playable by the age or grade you name on the entry form.

Entry is open to legal residents of the 50 US states and the District of Columbia aged 18 or over. Puerto Rico and other US territories are excluded, as are previous winners and judges. The entry window runs from 12 February to 15 August 2026.

Nothing here is a cash award. The two grand prizes are a seven-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Germany in spring 2027, covering flights, hotel, meals, a factory tour and sightseeing, with the winning pieces performed at the AOSA National Conference. SONOR puts the retail value at roughly USD 6,000 each. Two runners-up receive a limited-edition xylophone valued around USD 1,500. Prizes are taxable, cannot be exchanged for cash, and winning scores are published free for anyone to download.

You enter through an online form with a PDF score produced in notation software. Handwritten scores are rejected, audio is optional, and anything suspected of being AI-generated is disqualified. Three Orff-Schulwerk specialists judge anonymously on whether the piece meets the technical brief, whether it is playable and culturally appropriate for the stated grade, and on originality. Winners are announced before the end of November 2026.