Academic & Performance Areas

Professor Kratus implements Honors Composition Concert for K-12 Students

A statewide composition competition for young composers (K-12) was implemented by John Kratus, professor of music at MSU. He established the competition, entitled “Michigan Honors Composition Concert,” as project coordinator for the Michigan Music Educator’s Association (MMEA).

“I’ve felt for a long time that such a program has been lacking in Michigan, especially since honors band, orchestra and choir competitions were already being held throughout the state, and having seen the success of composition competitions in other states,” said Dr. Kratus.

Dr. Kratus’ specialty is in music composition and improvisation for children, and he has presented many lectures, papers and workshops on the topic. Now that the annual competition is in place, he hopes that teachers will encourage and teach their students to compose.

“I wanted to provide a venue for validating children’s music, and give them a stage to present it on,” said Dr. Kratus.

Tapes and CDs were submitted for consideration by one hundred students from grades two through twelve. Along with Dr. Kratus, two MSU doctoral students in composition, Murray Gross and John Richard, served as judges, in which eighteen pieces were finally chosen. The winners performed, or had their compositions performed, before an audience of 300 at the First Michigan Honors Composition Concert at the Michigan Music Educator’s In-Service Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in January 2003.

The Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra performed two of the pieces. Other works were performed by a jazz ensemble, rock band, gospel choir, saxophone quartet, folk singers, and piano players from throughout Michigan. Compositions ran the gambit from rock and jazz to classical and opera.

“It was fascinating to see the incredible preparation and extent to which the presenters went – all to perform on stage for five minutes,” said Dr. Kratus. “The pieces performed were truly amazing - if you hadn’t known that the composers were elementary through high school-aged students, you would have thought the pieces were composed by talented adult composers,” said Dr. Kratus.

“It was truly awe-inspiring to hear the work that so many young people are doing in music,” said Linda Moses, the mother of one of the student composers. “My daughter was honored to share her composition among such talented colleagues. As parents, we were so pleased to see music being promoted in such a way. We feel strongly that music is a necessity in life, and it's great to have our children exposed to a whole roomful of people who support this.”