In March, 2019, compositions were submitted by over 5,500 Music for Young Children® (MYC®) students competing in the 32nd Annual International Composition Festival. MYC students are between the ages of 3 to 11 and begin their musical journey at the following entry points:
Sunshine 1- age 3 & 4
Sunbeams 1- age 5 & 6
Moonbeams 1- ages 8-11
Within these levels, compositions are judged from four different regions: Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, YT, NT, MB), Eastern Canada (ON, QC, NS, NB, PEI, NF), United States & Asia (South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam). The eight first place (eight different age levels) International winners each receive $250.
The winners have just been formally announced. Sierra Mandino, student of Kemptville MYC teacher, Mairéad Frizell, received an honourable mention in this year’s Composition Festival for her song titled, “Skies Are Blue.” This is Sierra’s second year taking piano lessons at Tempo Drive Music Studios, and this is the second song she has written.
With the guidance of skilled teachers, children put a lot of effort into their compositions, including writing it out in full. “I could tell how much fine motor control was required to actually write those compositions so they could be shared with us!” Frances Balodis, MYC Composition Chairperson and founder of Music for Young Children, noted. “Some compositions have dynamic markings, and some have articulation guidance.” Even children as young as 3, in our Sunshine 1 program, are writing out their song with the help of stickers.
In business for 38 years, Music for Young Children is taught to 24,000 students (on an annual basis) across Canada, the United States, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia. For more information about MYC classes in Kemptville, contact Mairéad Frizell, 613-413-0098, or visit www.myc.com.
Sierra will perform her song at our annual recital on May 24 at the Pentecostal Church on Hwy. 43.