PARKVILLE, MD—The Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Music & Dance Education on Monday announced the Superior, Exceptional Honors, and Honorable Mention musical compositions for the 2020 BCPS Composition Project, which had the theme “BE BOLD.”

One student from Pine Grove Middle School was recognized, as was a student from Parkville High School.

Through the project, students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 are encouraged to submit musical compositions, which are then evaluated by a panel of music professionals. The Composition Project is designed to encourage and enhance the instructional experiences of BCPS students and music educators through professional critiques, enhanced recognition, and selected presentations of for the ongoing creative work of students.

“The BCPS Composition Project is an amazing platform for students to showcase creative thought and musical compositional skills,” said Shane D. Jensen, specialist in the BCPS Office of Music and Dance Education.

The honored projects can be downloaded and listened to from the BCPS Composition Project link on the left side of the Office of Music Education webpage.

The following works were selected for honors:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Exceptional

CM7 Song – by Daniel Yu, Rodgers Forge Elementary (music teacher: Brian Stojak)

Flo – by Hiba Mghaimima, Colgate Elementary (music teacher: Grace White)

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Exceptional

Journey – by Maze Pelham, Pine Grove Middle (music teacher: Andrew Worthington)

HIGH SCHOOL

Superior

A Big City Kinda Life – by James Esaw, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology (music teacher: Christopher Bassett)

Exceptional

Blood Red Sky – by Hunter Soth, Carver Center (music teacher: Christopher Bassett)

Awakening – by Sophia Paffenback, Carver Carver (music teacher: Christopher Bassett)

March in Eb – by Nelson Wyland Stephenson, Carver Center (music teacher: Christopher Bassett)

Marshans on the Moon – by Sean Graves, Owings Mills High (music teacher: Bishop Moore)

My Time With You – by John Camonayan, Carver Center (music teacher: Christopher Bassett)

The Confidence of Being Bold – by Makiah Jennings, Towson High (music teacher: Derrick Jackson)

Honorable Mention

Changes – by Lily Doran, Carver Center (music teacher: Christopher Bassett)

Play it Cool – by Brandon Yoon, Towson High (music teacher: Derrick Jackson)

Find Joy – by Marc Kanimu, Parkville High (music teacher: Ryan Pilius)

Safe – by Gavin Jacobson, Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts (music teachers: Valarie Adelung and Ashley Foster)

Jam Sessions in the City—by Michael Pfeifer, Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts (music teachers: Valarie Adelung and Ashley Foster)

All students who submitted a composition this year will receive a certificate. For those awarded Superior and Exceptional Honors, more information will follow.

The 2020 Composition Project judging panel included Dr. Lauren Bernofsky and Dr. Jeffrey S. Bishop, who are conductors, educators, and master composers, and Dr. Charity Wicks, a Broadway musical director and conductor.