Welcome to the CYCC! The Connecticut Youth Composers Collective is an annual benefit concert by composers for composers, designed to uplift the voices of K-12 students across CT, and encourage creativity in young people. The CYCC was created by us in order to give back to the CT music education communities that we came from, as well as to give opportunities to students that we didn't have. It is very rare for student composers to have their pieces performed live, and it is our mission to give them the opportunity to see their work come to life on stage. Not only will young composers get to hear their work performed by experienced musicians, their creativity will contribute to the CYCC Fund, dedicated to giving back to CT music classrooms in need.
Deadline to submit scores is January 15th, 2027
Who is eligible to participate?
Any K-12 student in Connecticut! All that we ask is that you have access to Google Drive and Gmail in order to receive program updates.
When is the concert and who is it benefiting?
The CYCC Concert will be held in Spring 2027 (location TBA). The cost of attendance will be pay-what-you-wish (at least $1) and all proceeds will be donated to local CT K-12 music classrooms in need of extra funding for things like instruments, classroom supplies, sheet music, field trips, etc. as part of the CYCC Fund. All featured composers are encouraged to attend free-of-charge. There will also be a networking event immediately following the concert for featured composers to meet each other and make connections. Date and Location will be sent out via email to featured composers, as well as an announcement on our social media once the venue has been finalized.
What are the submission requirements?
Please see our "Submission Requirements" section below for all information regarding your submission.
I want to participate but I haven't written anything yet. Where do I go for access to resources?
If you need guidance for writing your submissions, our official CYCC Composition Packet has links to resources such as notation software, DAWs, templates, and more. The downloadable CYCC Composition Packet can be found here
I am a local business and I would like to sponsor the CYCC because I believe in the arts. How do I go about doing that?
Please visit our Sponsors page to learn more about sponsoring the CYCC.
I am not a local business, but I still believe in the arts. Can I donate to the CYCC Fund?
Yes! Please visit our CYCC Fund page for more information about donations and the CYCC Higher Education Scholarship.
Max Abarientos
Creative Director
Carter Fetchin
Applicant Coordinator
Lily Kosko
Performance Coordinator
Eli Gill
Social Chair
Isabel Schenkel
Treasurer
Nicole Dionne
Applicant Coordinator
Ella Djlani
Performance Coordinator
Compositions must be ORIGINAL works. Covers, arrangements, and mashups will not be accepted.
Instrumental music must be notated either by hand or using notation software
Pop/rock submissions may be in any format
All lyrics music be appropriate
Submissions must be for the following ensembles ONLY:
Chamber Brass (5 or less instruments)
Chamber Woodwinds (6 or less instruments)
Sax Quartet/Quintet
Classical Instrument Duet (including piano + soloist)
Pop/Rock (Guitar, Bass, Drumset, Vocalist(s), Keyboard)
Solo Piano
Other (any combination of 4 or less wind/classical percussion instruments)
All submissions are required to provide either sheet music, lead sheets, or lyric sheets with chords (whichever is most appropriate). Mp3 or video recordings are highly encouraged but not required.
Participant Requirements
Composer must be a current K-12 student in the state of Connecticut as of submission
Have relative experience in music notation / songwriting
Have relatively few opportunities for their music to be performed
Access to email updates and announcements