Austin Symphony Orchestra chooses winners of 'Texas Young Composers Competition'

AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Symphony Orchestra has announced the winners of its 9th Annual Sarah & Ernest Butler Texas Young Composers Competition.

On Friday night, the orchestra will perform original songs written by nine young composers. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

The competition was open to students 18 years old and younger who submitted full, original orchestral compositions five to seven minutes in length. This year, 20 compositions were submitted from students across Texas. 

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One of the winners, 18-year-old Ayden Machajewski, had entered the competition three times. 

"Well, it's validating," Machajewski said of his composition being chosen. "Gives me hope that I could make a career out of it."

For 15-year-old winner Somesh Yatham, this was his first time entering the competition. 

"I spent an unnormal amount of time on that piece, for sure. So, definitely one of the happiest moments of my life," Yatham said.

Scholarships were offered to the nine winners, and the top five will have their songs published by Ars Nova.

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