Bellevue Teen Advances to National Music Composition Contest

Aaron Zhang, a sophomore at Lakeside School, has advanced to the national level of the 2021 National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Composers Contest. His composition, Interstellar Clouds, is a piano solo inspired by cosmic phenomena. The news was announced on Wednesday April 7, and comes after Zhang won first place in the Washington State NFMC Junior Composers Contest, class 3. He will be competing with some of the nation's top young composers, and national results will be announced around May 8.

The NFMC Junior Composers Contest is a premier music composition contest for young composers. The National Federation of Music Clubs, founded in 1898, has developed into one of the world's largest music organizations. The Congress of the United States charters the organization, which is also the only music organization member of the United Nations. Its annual Junior Festivals bring about 100,000 participants and encourages music education nationwide.