John Paul Bowers, a music student at Butte College, was awarded first place in the Music Association of California Community Colleges (MACCC) Composition Competition. The honor was announced during the MACCC annual conference in San Diego on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
Bowers' winning composition, "Looking Out The Window," was his first piece written specifically for piano, showcasing his dedication to learning and mastering the instrument. Bowers reflected on the achievement, saying, "This award means a lot to me. It was my first time properly composing a piece for piano. With that in mind, I had to spend a significant amount of time learning to write for the instrument."
"I'm incredibly grateful to have been chosen for this award, and in particular, I'm grateful to my professors and friends at Butte College. Without them, the recording, performance, and submission of the piece would not have been possible," he said.
Hesam Abedini, Bowers' music instructor, expressed his pride in his student's accomplishments. "It's been incredible to watch John Paul grow as a composer - each week, he'd transform my feedback into something fresh and exciting, always balancing bold new ideas with solid musical foundations. His win at the MACCC competition is well-deserved, and I couldn't be prouder of his hard work."
Bowers enrolled at Butte College as a psychology major. After taking a digital music production class in the spring of 2023, he was reminded of his love for music-making and inspired to pursue it professionally. Bowers plans to transfer to a 4-year university after completing his studies at Butte. He hopes to earn a graduate degree and pursue a career in music composition or education.
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Christian Gutierrez
Public Relations Officer
Butte College
3536 Butte Campus Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
Content editor:
Christian Gutierrez
530-895-2959
