Did you ever think that perhaps there was a little bit of Beethoven in you? That incessant desire to compose music? Have you ever wanted to write a piece for full symphony orchestra and hear it performed? Well, we have the perfect opportunity for you.

The Allentown Symphony Orchestra is holding a “Composers Competition” for composers in the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Next November, the Allentown Symphony will perform Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” This piece was written as a tribute to Elgar’s wife and 12 of his friends. He took a single theme and wrote a series of variations where each variation is a musical caricature of one of his friends. At the top of each variation, he wrote their initials, and at the premiere people had to solve the enigma of who the inspiration was for each variation of the piece.

To build upon Elgar’s “Enigma Variations” concept, we want to create our own set of variations using his original theme, but characterizing people right here in the Lehigh Valley.

So we are inviting composers of all ages and backgrounds to write their own short variation, between 30 seconds to 2 minutes, using Elgar’s original theme. Your variation should capture the personality of a friend or acquaintance, just as Elgar did in his original “Enigma Variations.”

We will then judge the submissions and merge the winning variations into a larger work that will be compiled by composer Larry Lipkis, Composer-In-Residence, Moravian College, and performed by the Allentown Symphony Orchestra in the Nov. 5 and 6 classical concerts.

To apply, you must reside in Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Carbon, Schuylkill, Berks, Montgomery and Bucks counties, or Warren and Hunterdon counties, N.J.

To keep things fair, we will have a variety of submission categories: 1. K-8 (piano score or orchestrated score); 2. High School and College (orchestrated score); 3) Adult, Advanced Musician (orchestrated score); Adult, Amateur Musician (piano score). Winning piano scores will be orchestrated.

You can write for any size orchestra up to a maximum of: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba, timpani, 2 percussion, and strings of: Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass.

June 13 is the deadline for applications with the score and sound files. Applications are to include the initials and description of the person you are characterizing.

Submissions should be done in standard music notation software such as Sibelius, Finale, Garage Band or Noteflight. Each application must include a Midi sound file or a recorded piano sound file. Scores will be judged blind with the use of pseudonyms to keep everything fair.

The compositions will be judged on the following criteria: 1. Originality and creative use of the theme; 2. Selection and use of orchestral instruments; 3. Ability to “capture” and express the personality traits of a person.

The winners will be introduced from the stage at the Allentown Symphony concerts next November when the new piece is performed.

Entry information: AllentownSymphony.org; click on Education & Community, and The Composers Competition is under the Community tab.

For more information on the composer contest, contact: Stephanie Kocher, Education and Outreach Director, skocher@allentownsymphony.org, 610-432-6715, ext. 206