Creative Reactions Contest
A contest designed to capture the impact of music, as perceived by Princeton University undergraduate and graduate student writers and artists.
Dedicated to the memory of Vera Sharpe Kohn. Hosted by the Student Ambassadors of Princeton University Concerts.
2023-24 Contest
The 2023-24 iteration of the Creative Reactions Contest is organized as part of the Impromptu Challenge.
Engaging with Music: About the Creative Reactions Program
It all started in February 2015, when over one hundred undergraduate and graduate students signed up for the first ever Creative Reactions Writing Contest. Conceived by the Student Ambassadors of Princeton University Concerts, this writing contest gave students a free ticket to attend a Princeton University Concert in the legendary Alexander Hall, in return for a creative written response to the performance—and a chance to win a cash prize. The wonderfully diverse group of submissions brought together judges from many corners of the Princeton community, including professors in the Creative Writing Program and Music Department, the owner of Labyrinth Bookstore, and long-standing community audience members.
The enthusiastic response to this novel initiative made clear that students were eager to extend the concert experience beyond the walls of Alexander Hall, and to share their passion for or curiosity about music with the community at large. Princeton University Concerts (PUC) has developed the Creative Reactions Program in order to provide such an opportunity to all Princeton University students. While continuing the Creative Reactions Contest on an annual basis, now expanded to include other art forms, this program will also present various other means through which students will be able to harness their creative talents in their engagement with music on campus. This includes a student-designed and student-written season brochure, opportunities for writing to be included in printed programs, and more.
Past Winners
2023 Contest: inspired by Cécile McLorin Salvant
First Prize Winner ($1000)
Youngseo Lee ’25 – “Haikus for Beauty After All”
SECOND PRIZE Winner ($500)
Yaashree Himatsingka ’24 – “Swamp”
HONORABLE MENTION Winner ($250)
Chas Brown ’26 – “Writing in the Dark”
See Winning Submissions
2022 Contest: “Music of Gratitude and Remembrance” (Writing)
First Prize Winner ($1000)
Auhjanae McGee ’23 – “Thank you, Alicia Keys”
SECOND PRIZE WinnerS ($500)
Will Hartman ’25 – “Everything, and What Comes After”
Alejandro Virue, Graduate Student – “Poor Funes … A Dialogue”
See Winning Submissions
2021 Contest: “What has music meant to you during the pandemic?” (Writing)
First Prize WinnerS ($1000)
Cassandra A. James ’23 – “Hummingbirds: A Pandemic Survival Guide”
Kerem Oktar, Graduate Student – “Everywhere, at the End of Time”
SECOND PRIZE Winner ($500)
Emily V. Mesev, Graduate Student – “Apocalypse Lullaby”
Honorable Mentions ($250)
Maya Keren ’22 – “Reminder to Self:”
Alexander Kim ’21 – “Dancing about Architecture: Some Selections From, and Commentary On, My Music Listening Diary”
Konstantinos Konstantinou ’22 – “Little Fugue on Covid-19”
See Winning Submissions
2020 Contest: Drawing
First Prize Winner ($1000)
Alyssa Cai ’20 – Serene Escape, colored pencil on paper, inspired by a Live Music Meditation with cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras
Honorable Mentions ($100)
Nazdar Ayzit ’23 – Untitled, pencil on paper, inspired by an all-Beethoven program performed by violinist Isabelle Faust, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and pianist Alexander Melnikov.
Eliana Gagnon ’23 – Untitled, charcoal/pencil on paper, inspired by a Performances Up Close program with pianist Gabriela Montero.
Sam Melton ’23 – Untitled, colored pencil on paper, inspired by the Calidore String Quartet.
Helen So ’22 – Untitled, digital, inspired by a Performances Up Close program with pianist Gabriela Montero.
Sandy Yang ’22 – Untitled, watercolor, inspired by an all-Beethoven program performed by violinist Isabelle Faust, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, and pianist Alexander Melnikov.
See Winning Submissions
2019 Contest
VISUAL ARTS CATEGORY
Prize not awarded
CREATIVE WRITING CATEGORY
First Prize Winner ($500)
Crystal Liu ’20 – “It’s Just Llike the Water: A Lyric Essay on Art and Faith” inspired by Gustavo Dudamel’s residency.
2018 Contest
First Prize Winner ($500)
Samuel Sebastian Cox ’18 – “Untitled” inspired by the Tenebrae Choir
Sang Lee ’18 – “A Couple of Fiddles” inspired by “Shostakovich and the Black Monk: A Russian Fantasy”
Honorable Mentions ($100)
Diana Chao ’21 – “Gaita (Gal)ega,” inspired by gaita player Cristina Pato
Xin Rong Chua GS – “Interlude,” inspired by “Shostakovich and the Black Monk: A Russian Fantasy”
Jason Molesky GS – “Tempest” inspired by violinist Jennifer Koh
See Winning Submissions
2017 Contest
First Prize Winners ($500)
Anna Leader ’18 – “love songs between balconies” inspired by Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton
David Ting ’17 – “El barrio(lage) desconocido” inspired by pianist violinist Augustin Hadelich & guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas
Honorable Mentions ($125)
Isabella Bosetti ’18 – “Translation/Aphasia,” inspired by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Xin Chua GS – “The Future Age,” inspired by the Takács String Quartet
Kirit Limperis ’19 – “With the Percussionist,” inspired by percussionist Colin Currie
2016 Contest
First Prize Winners ($500)
Anna Leader ’18 – “Untitled,” inspired by the Arcanto String Quartet
David Ting ’17 – “Journey Between Worlds,” inspired by pianist David Greilsammer
Second Prize Winners ($250)
Magdalena Collum ’18 – “Ritual, in four parts,” inspired by pianist Igor Levit
Emily Tu ’16 – “Voice,” inspired by pianist Igor Levit
2015 Contest
First Prize Winner
Susannah Sharpless ’15 – “Space and Time,” inspired by violinist Stefan Jackiw and pianist Anna Polonsky
Second Prize Winners
Trevor Klee ’15 – “Untitled,” inspired by pianist Marc-André Hamelin
Lucas Mazzotti ’17 – “Untitled,” inspired by the Brentano String Quartet and Joyce DiDonato
