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

The Fall 2026 Session will take place from September 27 - November 13, 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 (September 27, 4:00 pm PST)
  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 (October 4 and November 1, 4:00pm PST)
  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 (November 13, 5:00 pm PST, 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 - or read on to learn more about the commonly missed "Submit Order" button!

"SUBMIT ORDER" Button

A common mistake when registering through our CourseStorm software is missing the final step - the "Submit Order" button. After updating all of the fields and clicking "Update Info," please be sure to ALSO click "Submit Order" in order to complete the registration process!

Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra (WWSYO) Concerto Competition

Sunday, November 8, 2026, 4-6pm

Location TBA

(Note: Registration will close on Monday, November 2, 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: 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! WWSYO participants are NOT restricted to performing only on the instruments that they play in WWSYO. 
  
  
• Audition Time: Each participant will be given up to 12 minutes to audition. These audition slots will be between 4-6pm on Sunday, November 8, 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 sara@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 two or more students will play for theose 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 three 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 2027 WWSYO Concert in March 2027 (dates TBA), and for several rehearsals leading up to the concert. Rehearsals will be either Monday or 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 sara@wwsymphony.orgwith any questions.

We look forward to seeing you in November!

(Please Register by Monday, Nov 2, 2026 to participate!)

*A note about Registering using this program: 

A common mistake when registering through our CourseStorm software is missing the final step - the "Submit Order" button. After updating all of the fields and clicking "Update Info," please be sure to ALSO click "Submit Order" in order to complete the registration process! Please email emily@wwsymphony.org if you don't receive a confirmation email after completing your registration.