Historic Win for OCCTAC Students at 2025 MTAC Composers Today Competition
- occtac
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
Santa Ana, CA — The Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) is proud to announce that three talented students from the OCCTAC Preparatory Arts Academy of Music have received top honors in the 2025 Composers Today State Contest, hosted by the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC).
The annual statewide competition features young composers across California, with submissions judged on creativity, structure, and notation. This year, OCCTAC students placed across three separate divisions:
Jesus Reyes
1st Place
“Morning Brew” – Division 8 (Amateur Adult)
Cesar Galvan
3rd Place
“Los Tres Caballeros” – Division 9 (College/Conservatory Student)
Jessie Leon
Honorable Mention
“The Forlorn Walk” – Division 6 (Ages 16–17)
These remarkable results represent a historic milestone for OCCTAC, marking the first time students from the organization have placed in this prestigious competition since the launch of its Magnet Program in 2017. The program, which centers around the Music Teachers’ Association-sponsored Certificate of Merit, has steadily grown in scope and impact. Notably, all three award recipients are part of a small yet growing community of underrepresented Latino and Romanian composers. They also bring important representation as students with disabilities in a space that has traditionally been entirely neurotypical.
In 2023, with the CM Magnet Program firmly established, Ms. Phoebe, OCCTAC’s Music Academy Coordinator, sought to further inspire students by introducing a new creative opportunity. With a glowing recommendation from Hedy Lee, OCCTAC welcomed Isaac Loew—a gifted, award-winning composer and musician—to lead a composition program. Under Isaac’s passionate mentorship, the program has flourished, offering students a powerful outlet for artistic expression. Today, the program serves seven active students, ranging from middle schoolers to adults.
OCCTAC’s winners will be recognized and featured at the MTAC State Convention on Sunday, July 6, with Jesus Reyes and Cesar Galvan performing their original works during one of the Winners Recitals between 8:00–8:50 AM or 9:00–9:50 AM.
Both Reyes (21) and Galvan (18) began their musical journey at OCCTAC through its Music Therapy Program before the age of five. Today, they are multi-instrumentalists whose passion for music continues to flourish, guided by years of dedication and community support.
MTAC and the Composers Today Program
Founded in 1897, the Music Teachers’ Association of California supports over 4,000 members and more than 100,000 students statewide. Its Composers Today program encourages creativity and musicianship through three participation tracks: Evaluations (non-competitive), Symposium Recitals, and the State Contest (competitive).
As part of their recognition, the winning students receive:
A Student Performer Ticket
Three Guest Recital Passes
Access to all MTAC Convention student recitals, masterclasses, and sessions
Admission to the Featured Artist Recital and Exhibit Hall & Marketplace
OCCTAC extends heartfelt congratulations to Jesus, Cesar, and Jessie, and expresses deep gratitude to the dedicated teaching artists and families who nurture their talents every day.
About OCCTAC: Orange County Children's Therapeutic Arts Center (OCCTAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through arts education, therapeutic services, and community outreach. Since its inception in 2000, OCCTAC has been providing vital resources and support to underserved populations in Orange County, assisting them in unlocking their full potential and achieving their goals.
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