EUIMC (Virtual) Thematic Writing Category | East United International Music Competition

EUIMC Thematic Writing Contest

Submission deadline:

March 31, 2027

Create Together. Compete Together.

Team up with your teacher and bring your musical ideas to life!

One motive. Infinite possibilities.

The EUIMC Thematic Writing Contest invites students worldwide to transform the official EUIMC pitch motive for their age group into an original composition. With pitches provided and rhythms left to your imagination, this shared starting point allows your creativity and musical voice to shine.

Students may work with a teacher or participate independently—a teacher is not required. Teachers are welcome to guide the creative process, while the musical ideas and final composition must remain the student’s own. Each certificate will recognize the student and, where applicable, their guiding teacher.

Whether you are writing your first eight measures or exploring a more advanced musical language, the requirements for your age group will challenge your skills and showcase your potential.

How it works

Choose your age group — Age groups are determined by the age the participant turns during the competition year, regardless of their exact date of birth.
Download the Complete Contest Guide to get started. A printable manuscript is included for handwritten scores.
Choose one of the following instrumentation options for your composition:
- Solo piano
- Duo: Solo Instrument or Voice with Piano
- Trio sonata ensemble (2 violins + 1 cello)
- String quartet
- SATB choir
Compose — follow your age groups's requirements below.
Submit — PDF score + audio recording by March 31, 2027.

What to submit

PDF score — notation software or clearly legible handwriting with score annotation
Audio recording — A live performance or MIDI playback is acceptable
Composer statement (optional) — up to 150 words

Sample Composition: Motive Study in G Major

Sample MIDI Recording: Motive Study in G Major

General rules

Open to aspiring and experienced composers ages 5 and above worldwide.
All works must be original, unpublished, and composed solely by the participant.
Every entry must incorporate the official EUIMC motive, which must remain recognizable according to the requirements of the participant’s age group.
Each composition must have a title.
Score annotations: At the bottom of the score, list the compositional techniques used, the form of the piece, and the harmonic structure, with corresponding measure numbers.
Example:
- Compositional techniques: Repetition (mm. 5–6); sequence (mm. 9–12); inversion (mm. 17–20); augmentation (mm. 25–28).
- Form: ABA — A (mm. 1–16), B (mm. 17–32), A (mm. 33–48).
- Harmony: C major: I–V–I (mm. 1–8); G major: I–IV–V–I (mm. 17–24); return to C major (mm. 33–48).
“mm.” means measures. Annotations must reflect the actual content of the submitted composition.

Tiered Award System

EUIMC uses a tiered award system for the Thematic Writing Contest, with awards determined by each composition’s final score.

Gold Award: 90–100 points
Silver Award: 80–89 points
Bronze Award: 73–79 points
Merit Award: 70–72 points

Awards

For Grand Prize Winners:

A digital certificate
A digital copy of the official compilation of compositions submitted by contestants from around the world
A trophy
Your composition’s live or MIDI recording featured on EUIMC’s website, social media platforms, and Spotify

For Grand Prize Winners’ Teachers:

Sponsored access to SproutBeat, a web app that helps music teachers engage students in music theory through interactive games and worksheets

For Gold and Silver Award Winners:

Your composition will also be included in a sheet music compilation offered for sale on Musicnotes. Proceeds from sales will be donated to Human Appeal's Education Fund to support educational opportunities for vulnerable children around the world.

For All Contestants:

A digital certificate
A digital copy of the official compilation of compositions submitted by contestants from around the world

Evaluation

You're evaluated as a composer, not a performer.

Jury assess your compositional craft and your creative use of the motive. Performance quality does not affect your score, and MIDI playback is perfectly acceptable. That said, a clear, expressive performance helps your compositional ideas come through — so play it as well as you can, then let the writing speak.

Results will be announced by April 30, 2027.

Evaluation criteria:

Artistic Originality
Technical Craftsmanship
Structural Coherence
Creative Transformation of the motive
Adherence to Category-Specific Requirements
Expressive impact and communication
Effective use of musical elements such as dynamics, texture, and register

▶️ Download the Complete Contest Guide (PDF)

Composition Requirements & Age Groups

Each age group has its own official pitch motive. Download the Complete Contest Guide and use the motive assigned to your age category.

Only pitches are provided—no rhythm is given. Create your own rhythm, meter, tempo, phrasing, and accompaniment. When presenting the original motive, retain its given pitches and their order. You may then develop it according to your category’s requirements.

All entry fees are in USD.

Elementary | Ages 8–11

Entry fee: $35
Length: 16–24 bars

Key: Any major or minor key with up to one sharp or one flat in the key signature. No modulation.
Harmony: Use the primary chords: I, IV, and V in major keys, or i, iv, and V in minor keys, with the leading tone raised.
Motive use: Include the motive at least three times. At least two appearances must retain its original pitches and their order.
Compositional techniques: Use exact repetition and at least one of the following: imitation in a different voice or instrumental part, or sequence.
Form: AB or ABA.

Senior | Ages 16–18

Entry fee: $45
Length: 40–80 bars

Key: Any major or minor key. Modulation is optional.
Harmony: Include at least one chromatic chord, such as a secondary dominant, borrowed chord, Neapolitan sixth chord, or augmented sixth chord.
Motive use: Present the original pitch motive at least three times, then develop it throughout the composition. Keep an identifiable connection to the original in its transformed appearances.
Compositional Techniques: Use at least four different techniques from this list: sequence, imitation, inversion, retrograde, augmentation, diminution, and variation. At least two must be inversion, retrograde, augmentation, or diminution.
Form: Sonatina form or a character piece with a clear structure.

Primary | Ages 5–7

Entry fee: $30
Length: 8–16 bars

Key: C major, G major, or A minor. No modulation.
Harmony: Use only tonic and dominant chords: I and V in major keys, or i and V in A minor, with the leading tone raised (G♯).
Motive use: Include the original pitch motive at least three times, retaining its pitches and their order.
Compositional technique: Use exact repetition of the motive, retaining the same pitches and rhythm. No transformations are required.
Form: No prescribed form.

Open | Ages 19 & Above

Entry fee: $50
Length: 3–8 minutes

Key: Any major or minor key. Include at least one modulation.
Harmony: Include at least two different chromatic chords, such as a secondary dominant, borrowed chord, Neapolitan sixth chord, or augmented sixth chord.
Motive use: At least five appearances of the motive, whether in its original form or in a transformed version.
Compositional techniques: Use at least four different techniques, which may include repetition, sequence, imitation, inversion, retrograde, augmentation, diminution, variation, fragmentation, rhythmic displacement, or other clearly identifiable methods of motivic development.
Development standard: Techniques must contribute meaningfully to the development of the official EUIMC motive and the overall musical structure. The same transformation cannot be counted twice under different technique names. Judging prioritizes musical coherence, originality, and effective development over technical complexity alone.
Form: Any musical form.

Junior | Ages 12–15

Entry fee: $40
Length: 24–40 bars

Key: Any major or minor key with up to three sharps or three flats in the key signature. Modulation is optional.
Harmony: Use tonal harmony, including at least one secondary triads (ii, iii, or vi) beyond the primary chords.
Motive use: Present the original pitch motive at least three times, then develop it throughout the composition. Keep a clearly recognizable connection to the original.
Compositional techniques: Use at least three different techniques from this list: sequence, imitation, inversion, augmentation, and diminution. At least one must be inversion, augmentation, or diminution.
Form: ABA or theme and variations.