The Lambda Chapter of Phi Beta Mu established a band composition contest in 1982 under the leadership of prominent band composer Claude T. Smith, a member of the Lambda Chapter. Following Smith's death in 1987 the contest was renamed the Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest. The original intent of this contest was to encourage young composers of band music. The chapter voted to assess each member three dollars annually to provide funding so that the prize could be offered every three years. The winner of the first contest (1985) received an award of $300. With a contribution from the Smith family and increased chapter support, the prize was increased to $1,000 in 1995. The 2007 award was increased to $3,500.00 and, as a result of continued support from various organizations and individuals, the award for 2013 was $5,000 will be that amount for the 2025 contest. Every attempt is made to have the winning composition performed at the Missouri Music Educators Association annual state convention. Expenses for the winning composer (American entries only) to attend the convention are paid for by the fraternity. The original chair of the composition committee was Russ Coleman, Director of Bands, Central Missouri State University – Retired. The current chair is Joe Pappas, band director, composer, publisher.

The contest rules were formulated by Claude Smith and approved by the membership:

•  Composers must be thirty years old or younger by January 1 of the contest year.
•  The composition must be original and unpublished.

•  The composition should be of grade III-IV difficulty and conform to standard band instrumentation.

•  A full score and high-quality recording on CD is to be included. A live recording is preferred, however, a midi recording or computer generated recording may be submitted and must have instrument sounds aligned with the score.

•  Entries are due on October 1, the year prior to the contest.

•  A committee of Lambda Chapter members shall review all entries and select the winner. Lambda chapter reserves the right to reject any and all entries.

Below is a list of the winning compositions and an update on the activities of the composers:

1985 - There Shall Only Be Silence - David Gorham    Unpublished.
David has 48 compositions published.  Currently he is the director of bands at Owasso High School, Owasso, Oklahoma.

1989 - Variations on 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God' - Darren Jenkins
Published by J & M Music (out of print). Southern Music has published his composition. Delaware Valley Celebration and his composition for saxophone solo and band has received many performances in this country and in Europe.  Darren is an assistant band director in the Lawrence, Kansas school system.

1992 - I Am - Andy Boysen, Jr.  Published by Kjos
Andy now has dozens of works published and several in the process.  He is in his seventh year as Director of Bands at the University of New Hampshire.

1995 - Ovations - Andy Boysen, Jr. Published by Kjos

1998 - Sala ya Tanzania - Ken Hakoda    Published by FJH Music
Ken was most recently the assistant professor of music at Kansas Wesleyan University and director of the Salina Symphony. His composition Peace: A Place for Us is published by FJH Music. He has written five works for concert band, two commissioned from high schools. He was commissioned to write a piece for the St. Olaf College Band in 2000 and recently completed a work for the Oklahoma Youth Wind Symphony. He is currently working on a piece for a high school band in Iowa and has two more commissions pending.

2001 - Prestidigitato - Kyle Kindred   Published by TRN
Recent winner of the American Prize, Kyle is Professor and Director of Composition Studies at Sam Houston State University of Music. He is a featured composer of GIA Publications in volume 4 of Composers on Composing for Band.

2004 – Twilight in the Wilderness – Christopher Tucker - Published by Southern Music
Christopher is from DeSoto, TX and continues to compose.  He is the director and founder of of the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and is a radio announcer for WRR Classical 101.1 in Dallas.

2007 – Play – Carl Holmquist - Published by C. Allen Publications
Carl lives in Annaandale, VA where he is the director of bands at the H-B Woodlawn Program of the Arlington Public Schools. 

2010 – Robinson Suite – Joseph Earp
Joseph Earp is currently serving at Limestone University in Gaffney, SC as director of athletic bands.

2013 – No Award Presented.

2016 – SPARK! - Robert Langenfeld
Robert lives in Shawnee, KS, and is a software engineer. In 2012 he founded his own publishing company RLCompositions. Visit his website at: rlcompositions.com  

2016 – The Darkest Hour - Cooper Minnis - Honorable Mention

2019 – KEY WEST OVERTURE – Chandler Comer - KJOS Publications
Chandler is a recent graduate of George Mason Universitywith a BA in Mathematics.

2022 – ARMORY – Dakota Pederson
Now a graduate of Indiana State University, he is now the assistant band director for the Fairfield School District in Goshen, Indiana. Armory was performed by the Saint Louis Wind Symphony at the 2022 MMEA state Conference.

2025 – To Be Determined (next date for the composition contest to be awarded)

As is evident, the intent of this contest to encourage young composers of music for band has been met. The Lambda Chapter is committed to continuing this project and adding to the repertoire of original compositions for band. Contests will continue to be held every three years with the next competition in 2025.

Donations to the Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest are tax deductible through the PBM-Lamba Foundation. Send donation to the addresses below, or make online at www.phibetamulambda.org. Click on the “Pay Online” tab at the top of the page and scroll down to the donate button.

For further information, please contact:

Joe Pappas, Chair-Claude T. Smith Memorial Band Composition Contest - 113 Glenfield Dr., Festus, MO 63028 - epp@brick.net

or

Chris Auchly, Secretary/Treasurer Lambda Chapter - 710 Rosemary Lane, Festus MO 63028 - phibetamulambda@gmail.com