Express the Music Contest

THE EXPRESS THE MUSIC CONTEST

Sponsored by the Neighborhood Music Project, a collaboration between Princeton University Concerts and Trenton Arts at Princeton

The Neighborhood Music Project is pleased to announce the 2022-23 Express the Music Contest—a contest designed to capture the impact of music as perceived by Trenton Central High School students. This year’s contest, open to writing and drawing entries, asks participants to respond to one of two Princeton University Concerts performances: Jess Gillam, Saxophone (Oct 26) and tenThing Brass Ensemble (Dec 13). Entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges from the Princeton University Concerts staff.

The First Prize winner will be awarded an iPad, Apple Pencil, and Smart Cover ($500 value). Honorable Mention winners will be awarded Jabra Elite 45h headphones ($100 value). 

Submission deadlines depend on which concert you attend:

  • Jess Gillam, Saxophone & Thomas Weaver, Piano
    • Concert date: Wed, Oct 26, 2022
    • Submission deadline: Mon, Nov 14, 2022
  • tenThing Brass Ensemble
    • Concert date: Tue, Dec 13, 2022
    • Submission deadline: Mon, Jan 2, 2023

The winning entry(ies) will be announced and publicly distributed in a printed booklet in summer 2023. Princeton University Concerts and Trenton Arts at Princeton may incorporate the winning entry(ies) into future print and online materials. 

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Maestro Dudamel’s Legacy: About the Neighborhood Music Project

For its historic 125th anniversary during the 2018-19 season, Princeton University Concerts brought conductor Gustavo Dudamel to campus as its first Artist-in-Residence for a year-long residency designed to propel classical music forward in a vibrant and socially relevant manner. Celebrated by the campus and broader community, this residency inspired a new outreach program, the Neighborhood Music Project, conceived to reinforce Maestro Dudamel’s commitment to music as a force for uniting communities, empowering young people, and promoting positive social change. The Neighborhood Music Project is a collaboration between Princeton University Concerts and Trenton Arts at Princeton.


PAST WINNERS:

2021-22 Contest

To see the winning submissions, click here.

First Prize Winner

Kilder Sanic, 12th grade - Listen: A Reminder, inspired by Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason's TCHS performance

Second Place Winners

Guadalupe Bueno, 11th grade - Magic Behind the Music, inspired by Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason's TCHS performance

Allison Cifuentes, 11th grade - The Shout to Peace, inspired by Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason's Richardson Auditorium performance

Honorable Mentions

Sherly Hernandez-Rodas, 11th grade - (Story You Pick), inspired by Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason's performance of the Sonata for Cello and Piano in D Minor, Op. 40 by Dmitri Shostakovich

Deborah Htu, 12th grade - Time to Time, inspired by Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason's performance of the spiritual "Deep River"

 

2020-21 Contest

To see the winning submissions, click here.

First Prize Winners

Jairo Cabrera, 12th grade - Light in Darkness, inspired by the song "Don't Stop Me Now" by the British rock band Queen

Evita Vasquez Reyes, 10th grade - Filter, accompanied by an original drawing by the author

 

2019-20 Contest

To see the winning submissions, click here.

First Prize Winner

Gisela Bramonte, 10th grade - Mounsanti, inspired by a Performances Up Close program with pianist Gabriela Montero

Honorable Mentions

Perla Diaz, 9th grade - Beautiful Melody, inspired by an all-Ives program performed by violinist Stefan Jackiw and pianist Jeremy Denk

Raymaellene Gomez, 10th grade - What Music Means to Me, inspired by a Performances Up Close program with pianist Gabriela Montero

McKhia Owen, 10th grade - Untitled, inspired by a Performances Up Close program with pianist Gabriela Montero

Collin Thompson, 12th grade - Let Music Set You Free, pen on paper, inspired by a Performances Up Close program with pianist Gabriela Montero