New York Composers Circle is happy to announce the winner and runner-up of the 18th annual John Eaton Memorial Competition. The selection of the winning work was a unanimous decision. Congratulations to our competition winner, Robert Carl, for his piano quartet, Just Listen. Congratulations also to our close runner-up, Yurui “Rain” Hou, for her trio for clarinet, cello, and piano, Monsoon (梅雨). The winning work will be performed in our upcoming 23rd concert season. Both winner and runner-up will receive a complimentary one-year membership in the New York Composers Circle.

Our sincere thanks to all of the entrants in the John Eaton Memorial Competition. We wish you continued success in your musical endeavors. We look forward to getting to know Robert and Rain and their music over the next year as they join the ranks of NYCC.

If you have questions about the competition, please email David Mecionis, Executive Director and Artistic Director, at the following address: HERE.

Robert Carl, 2025 Winner, for Just Listen, for piano quartet

Yurui “Rain" Hou, 2025 Runner-up, for Monsoon (梅雨), for clarinet, cello, and piano

PAST WINNING COMPOSERS and PIECES

2024: Sofia Jen Ouyang, Insects, for string quartet

• Runner-up: Jakub Polaczyk, Ginko-ya: Pendulum (in memoriam Krzysztof Penderecki)

2023: Will Stackpole, Palette for string quartet

• Honorable Mention: Sami Seif, Orientalism for string quartet
• Honorable Mention: Kurt Nelson, Struttura Assente for string trio

2022: Patrick Andrew Thompson, Moments Sweep Past, for soprano, cello, and piano

• Honorable Mention: Matīss Čudars, Drive, for solo piano
• Honorable Mention: Jeremy Gill, Quartet for Oboe and Strings

2021: No prize awarded

2020: Jeffrey Niederhoffer, Picking Up Where I Left Off, for violin and piano

• Honorable Mention: David Hier, String Quartet in Two Movements
• Honorable Mention: Zach Gulaboff Davis, Prism, for piano trio

2019: Cheng Jin Koh, Ecstasy, for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano

• Honorable Mention: Derek Cooper, Kill James, for bassoon, cello, and piano
• Honorable Mention: Michael Salvatore Grebla, Sfidare, for string quartet
• Honorable Mention: Ursula Kwong-Brown, Unwinding II, for string quartet

2018: Gilad Cohen, Three Goat Blues, for string quartet

2017: Andrey Komanetsky, String Quartet in Five Movements

2016: No prize awarded

2015: Ross Griffey, Tied by a Chance Bond Together, for violin and piano

2014: Vladimir Del Orbe, Contextual Enigma, for clarinet, double bass, and piano

• Honorable Mention: José Beviá, Trio No. 3 for Violin, Cello, and Piano
• Honorable Mention: Jonathan Bingham, Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano

2013: Eric Segerstrom, Two Poems, for piano trio

• Honorable Mention: David Brooks, 'Metamorphosis’ Variations, for prepared piano

2012: Jesse Diener-Bennett, Ninth for Two, for flute and violin

2011: Max Giteck Duykers, Glass Blue Cleft, for string quartet

2010: Scott D. Miller, Polychrome Stride, for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano

2009: Elizabeth Lim, Wafting, for string quartet

2008: Co-winners Robert S. Cohen, The Mysterious Transformation of Johann B., for clarinet and 6 percussionists; Brian Fennelly "Sigol” for Two, for two cellos

2007: Dana Dimitri Richardson, Ballade, for piano

• Honorable Mention: Steve Cohen, Serenade for String Quartet
• Honorable Mention: Marc-Antonio Consoli, Tre per Due for flute, clarinet, and piano
• Honorable Mention: Alex Temple, Her Name Was Renée for clarinet, percussion, double bass, and piano