<p>Another resource: <a href=“Resources: Competitions, Organizations, Partners | The Walden School”>http://waldenschool.org/about-us/community-resources/</a></p>
<p>Competitions can help with confidence or at least help with figuring out how you stand in terms of other young composers, and can sometimes provide opportunities to get pieces played (or even some money). For colleges that don’t require a portfolio or even one sample of work, competitions and awards can help the resume and communicate talent to admissions. Some resist entering but during an application year, they can be helpful.</p>
<p>Your son might enjoy newmusicbox.org’s blog as well. Spirit Manager directed me to it. (Spirit Manager knows a lot and helps us all with great suggestions.) New Music Box has a lot of great information and discussion.</p>