©2026 Ohio Music Education Association
Committee Updates
OMEA Young Composers Initiative (OMEAYCI) Report
Jennifer Merkowitz
L-R: OMEA Past President Mike Crist, YCI chair Jennifer Merkowitz, YCI board member Marilyn Shrude, finalists Chet Kirkland and Levi Kendall, guest performers Jake Loitz and Chris Harris, YCI board members Matthew Kennedy and Cara Haxo, and BGSU Dean of the College of Musical Arts Bill Mathis.
Jennifer Merkowitz,
OMEAYCI Board Chair
The OMEA Young Composers Initiative was created in 2019 to encourage, foster, and promote musical creativity across Ohio’s young music students. Each year, we invite young composers in grades 7-12 to submit compositions for a featured ensemble. The submissions are judged by the YCI board, a group of professional composers and teachers from around the state of Ohio.
At the 2026 OMEA PDC in Columbus, guest performers Jake Loitz and Chris Harris (BGSU) performed 2 duos for alto saxophone and percussion composed by our finalists: Where the Wild Ones Go by Levi Kendall (Hubbard, OH; sponsored by Daniel Nestich) and Precipitation by Chet Kirkland (Circleville, OH; sponsored by Brennan Colvard). Prior to the conference, the students received two virtual lessons with members of the YCI board. At the PDC concert, students received feedback and suggestions from the performers, the YCI board, and the audience on their scores. They were also introduced and recognized by Dr. Michael R. Crist, OMEA Past President, who was instrumental in the creation of the YCI.
The OMEA YCI board is Dr. Jennifer Merkowitz, chair (Otterbein University), Dr. Marc Ainger (Ohio State University), Dr. Carolyn Borcherding (Baldwin Wallace University), Dr. Cara Haxo (The Walden School), Dr. Matthew Kennedy (Heidelberg University), Dr. Robert McClure (Ohio University), and Dr. Marilyn Shrude (Bowling Green State University).
This coming year, we are pleased to continue our partnership with the Bowling Green State University College of Musical Arts. Their generous sponsorship will support the participation of our featured performers from BGSU, clarinetist Hayley Harrison and pianist Niayesh Javaheri. Stay tuned for a call for scores for the seventh annual Young Composers Initiative Composition Competition Concert at the 2027 OMEA PDC in Columbus with a deadline in mid-October. Applications must be submitted by an OMEA member sponsor through the OMEA portal. Any questions can be directed to Dr. Jennifer Merkowitz (jmerkowitz@otterbein.edu).