SPARK! is a free online composition course geared toward brand new through advanced young composers in grades 3-12.

The Winter 2026 Session will take place from Jan 11 - Feb 20, 2026.

Throughout each session, participants will meet via Zoom for private lessons with Kristin Vining to develop an individual project. Participants will also meet in groups once each month to explore improvisational and compositional techniques together. By the end of the course, the participants will have an original musical composition ready to share at an online music showcase. 

The Course will consist of the following elements, all conducted online:

• ONLINE ORIENTATION (Jan 11, 4:00 pm PT)
  An introductory meeting with all participants to go over the different elements of the course, and give composers a head start on brainstorming their composition.
• PRIVATE LESSONS (flexible scheduling)
  Study music composition with Kristin Vining. In your lessons Kristin provides individual attention to help you start, develop, and complete your project. Schedule lessons at your convenience using an online Calendly sign-up form.
• GROUP CLASS & COMPOSERS WORKSHOP (Jan 25 and Feb 8, 4:00pm PT)
  Both events are encouraged but optional for all participants. Meet other young composers, build your composer toolbox, study music theory & explore composition techniques, and workshop your compositions-in-progress.
• ONLINE SHOWCASE (Feb 20, 5:00 pm PT, 4:30 call time)
  Share your new work! Friends and family are invited to join. Present a PDF and computer-generated sound file of your new composition. Hear an excerpt of your piece performed live by a WWS musician! This event is recorded and the recording is shared with all participants. 

You will receive an email confirmation once you complete registration, containing links to the Orientation, Group Classes, and Private Lesson Sign-Up Calendar. Please email emily@wwsymphony.org if you don't receive this confirmation after completing your registration!

Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra (WWSYO) Concerto Competition

January 28, 2026, 6-8pm

Location TBA

(Note: Registration will close on Monday, January 12, at 5pm.)

The WWSYO Concerto Competition is an opportunity for our region's up-and-coming musicians to prepare and perform an audition for a panel of professional adjudicators. The competition takes place in Walla Walla, WA. Participants compete in one of two divisions:

  Intermediate Division (Up to grade 8), and
  Senior Division (Grades 9-12)

In addition to three monetary prizes, selected participants may be invited to perform with the Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert.

Guidelines and Procedures Checklist:

• Geographical Limits: The competition is open to residents of Walla Walla and Columbia Counties in Washington, and Umatilla County in Oregon.
  
  
• Membership in the Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra is NOT required. (But we'd love for you to join us!)
  
  
• Instrument Restrictions: WWSYO students are NOT restricted to performing only on the instruments that they play in WWSYO. All instruments and vocal parts are welcome to participate. Participants may also choose to prepare multiple auditions on more than one instrument, if they wish!
  
  
• Audition Time: Each participant will be given up to 12 minutes to audition. These audition slots will be between 6-8pm on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, with the panelists and a live audience present.
  
  
• Choice of Piece: 
  Instrumental participants should prepare a movement of a concerto or similar concert piece.
  Singers should prepare an aria or similar selection.
  Participants may choose a piece longer than 12 minutes, but must choose which movement or portion to present to the adjudicators to meet the time limit.
  We recommend that participants choose a piece written in 1850 or earlier if possible, due to instrumentation considerations and accessibility of parts. Pieces written after 1850 may be accepted but are less likely to meet director's approval for these reasons. Musical selections should have readily available orchestral parts.
  We will ask for a publisher or source of these parts during registration, but if you have trouble finding them just let us know, we may be able to help!
  
  
• Piece Pre-Approval: The piece or movement which each participant chooses is subject to the approval of WWSYO Music Director Bruce Walker. Upon submission of each participant’s Registration Form, we will review piece selections and will contact participants if their piece is NOT approved. Email bruce@wwsymphony.org and/or emily@wwsymphony.org if you'd like to know ahead of registering whether your piece will be approved.
  
  
• Piece Memorization: Participants may use sheet music during the audition. Competition winners should be prepared to perform their selections by memory at the Spring Concert.
  
  
• Copies of Music: Participants are responsible for bringing three copies of the music for the adjudicators during the competition. Music can be returned at the end of the performance if requested.
  
  
• Accompanists: Participants may choose to audition either with or without an accompanist. If playing with an accompanist, participants are responsible for arranging and compensating their own accompanists. WWSYO may be able to help participants locate an accompanist if needed. When scheduling audition times, we try to group students together based on the accompanists, i.e. an accompanist performing with four students will play for the students back-to-back to be considerate of the accompanist’s time.
  
  
• DVD submissions and electronic submissions are NOT permitted. The intention of the competition is to provide a live adjudication experience for participants.       
  
  
• Competition Day Instructions, including each participant’s audition time, will be emailed at least five days prior to the competition. Please be sure to provide a working email address during registration to ensure that you receive these instructions.
  
  
• Additional Requirements for Winners: If a participant is selected to perform their piece with the Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Music Director may limit the number of movements or total performance time to fit a specific concert program. In addition, only selections with readily available orchestral parts will be programmed for a concert performance. Participants who are selected to perform must be available for the Spring 2026 WWSYO Concert in May 2026 (dates TBA), and for several rehearsals leading up to the concert. Rehearsals are currently on Wednesday evenings between 6:30-8:15 pm in Walla Walla. Rehearsal dates specific to each Concerto will be announced after the competition. If winners choose to perform only on their selection, and not enroll in the ensemble, they will only be required to attend those rehearsals in which that piece is rehearsed. Winners are encouraged to, but not required to, enroll in WWSYO to participate in the other pieces on the program.

To participate, please click "Register" on this page and complete the registration form. Further instructions, including each participant's audition time, will be sent via email to the email address or addresses you provide during registration. Contact emily@wwsymphony.org with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you in January!

(Please Register by Monday, January 12, 2026 to participate!)

SPARK! is a free online composition course geared toward brand new through advanced young composers in grades 3-12.

The Spring 2026 Session will take place from March 22 - May 1, 2026.

Throughout each session, participants will meet via Zoom for private lessons with Kristin Vining to develop an individual project. Participants will also meet in groups once each month to explore improvisational and compositional techniques together. By the end of the course, the participants will have an original musical composition ready to share at an online music showcase. 

The Course will consist of the following elements, all conducted online:

• ONLINE ORIENTATION (March 22, 4:00 pm PT)
  An introductory meeting with all participants to go over the different elements of the course, and give composers a head start on brainstorming their composition.
• PRIVATE LESSONS (flexible scheduling)
  Study music composition with Kristin Vining. In your lessons Kristin provides individual attention to help you start, develop, and complete your project. Schedule lessons at your convenience using an online Calendly sign-up form.
• GROUP CLASS & COMPOSERS WORKSHOP (March 29 and April 19, 4:00pm PT)
  Both events are encouraged but optional for all participants. Meet other young composers, build your composer toolbox, study music theory & explore composition techniques, and workshop your compositions-in-progress.
• ONLINE SHOWCASE (May 1, 5:00 pm PT, 4:30 call time)
  Share your new work! Friends and family are invited to join. Present a PDF and computer-generated sound file of your new composition. Hear an excerpt of your piece performed live by a WWS musician! This event is recorded and the recording is shared with all participants. 

You will receive an email confirmation once you complete registration, containing links to the Orientation, Group Classes, and Private Lesson Sign-Up Calendar. Please email emily@wwsymphony.org if you don't receive this confirmation after completing your registration!

SPARK! is a free online composition course geared toward brand new through advanced young composers in grades 3-12.

The Summer 2026 Session will take place from June 29 - August 3, 2026.

Throughout each session, participants will meet via Zoom for private lessons with Kristin Vining to develop an individual project. Participants will also meet in groups once each month to explore improvisational and compositional techniques together. By the end of the course, the participants will have an original musical composition ready to share at an online music showcase. 

The Course will consist of the following elements, all conducted online:

• ONLINE ORIENTATION (June 29, 4:00 pm PT)
  An introductory meeting with all participants to go over the different elements of the course, and give composers a head start on brainstorming their composition.
• PRIVATE LESSONS (flexible scheduling)
  Study music composition with Kristin Vining. In your lessons Kristin provides individual attention to help you start, develop, and complete your project. Schedule lessons at your convenience using an online Calendly sign-up form.
• GROUP CLASS & COMPOSERS WORKSHOP (July 6 and July 20, 4:00pm PT)
  Both events are encouraged but optional for all participants. Meet other young composers, build your composer toolbox, study music theory & explore composition techniques, and workshop your compositions-in-progress.
• ONLINE SHOWCASE (August 3, 5:00 pm PT, 4:30 call time)
  Share your new work! Friends and family are invited to join. Present a PDF and computer-generated sound file of your new composition. Hear an excerpt of your piece performed live by a WWS musician! This event is recorded and the recording is shared with all participants. 

You will receive an email confirmation once you complete registration, containing links to the Orientation, Group Classes, and Private Lesson Sign-Up Calendar. Please email emily@wwsymphony.org if you don't receive this confirmation after completing your registration!