ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
Offered by The ASCAP Foundation
About This Scholarship
The ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards is one of the most prestigious recognition programs for emerging concert-music composers in the United States. Named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and former ASCAP president Morton Gould, the annual competition awards cash prizes to composers under age 30, with a share of the prize pool determined by the foundation each year.
Entrants submit one original concert work — published or unpublished — written within the three years before submission, along with an MP3 recording if one is available. There is no essay and no entry fee; judging is based entirely on the music. Composers as young as 13 may enter, and eligibility extends to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and enrolled students holding valid U.S. student visas.
For serious young composers, a Morton Gould award carries significant career weight in addition to the prize money, and past recipients populate major orchestra commissions and university composition faculties.
Eligibility
- Composer at least 13 and under 30 years old as of the deadline
- U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or enrolled student with a valid U.S. student visa
- Submit one original concert work written within the past three years
- Co-written works and winners of three prior Morton Gould awards are ineligible
How To Apply
- Submit your score through the ASCAP Foundation's online application when the cycle opens
- Include an MP3 recording of the work if available
- One work per entrant per year; the next deadline is February 7, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be an ASCAP member to enter?
No membership is required to enter the Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, and there is no entry fee. The program is run by the charitable ASCAP Foundation.