The 4th MusicON International Composition Competition
MusicON is delighted to announce the finalists of the 4thMusicON International Composition Competition. This year’s competition received 79 compositions from composers representing 20 countries and regions: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Montenegro, Greece, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Türkiye, Vietnam, Colombia, Venezuela, and Australia. Among the 79 participants, 64 composers competed in Group A (age 19 and above) and 15 composers competed in Group B (under age 19). The competition brought together an exceptionally diverse and talented group of emerging composers from around the world. Following a rigorous review by our distinguished jury, six composers have been selected as finalists:
GROUP A — AGE 19 AND ABOVE
Maya Miro Johnson
Crepitus and Cavitations
Yan Liang
Nigredo V: Black Sun Escape
Hangzhong Lian
Contours de la mémoire
Daniel (Jingyang) Cui
樗栎 (Chu-li)
GROUP B — UNDER AGE 19
Wang Ziyuan
Asynchronous Collapses
Sophia Kunxu Dou
Last Day in Vain
Both divisions of this year’s competition included young composers who have received major composition awards and distinctions. Group A (age 19 and above) included a winner of the Dimitri Mitropoulos International Competition, as well as ASCAP and BMI award winners, among others. Group B (under age 19) included an ASCAP award recipient, two composers selected for the 2026 NYO-USA Composer Apprenticeship Program, and finalists from the previous two editions of the MusicON International Composition Competition. We extend our sincere gratitude to our distinguished jury members, Prof. Wang Lu and Prof. Felipe Lara, as well as to all 79 composers who shared their music with us.
In recognition of the exceptional quality of this year’s submissions, MusicON Festival will also invite selected composers whose works were not advanced to the finals to participate in the 2027 MusicON Festival as Guest Composers. Through this initiative, MusicON hopes to continue supporting outstanding composers and creating opportunities for their music to be presented to new audiences.
The six finalist compositions will be performed live at the 2026 MusicON Festival in New York City on October 3 and 4, 2026. The final results of the competition will be determined following the live performances.
Congratulations to all of our 2026 finalists! We look forward to presenting these exceptional new works on stage in New York and celebrating the creativity, artistry, and distinctive voices of the next generation of composers.
Finalists
