GUIDELINES, MUSICAL SELECTIONS AND REQUIRED FORMS
Now in its 52nd year, the Paint to Music Contest has been inspiring young artists since its creation in 1973 as part of the San Antonio Symphony’s educational outreach. The contest encourages students to experience the language of classical music and express their creativity through visual art, demonstrating how music and art together can spark imagination and learning.
How It Works
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Who Can Participate: Open to all students in Kindergarten through Grade 12.
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The Process: In the classroom, students create artwork while listening to carefully selected music by Alamo City Arts, chosen to align with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
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Judging & Awards: A panel of judges reviews submissions, with 150–200 pieces typically receiving recognition—and even more expected this year with the inclusion of additional grades.
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Showcase: Winning artwork will be featured during Alamo City Arts’ Symphony Viva student concerts, accompanying Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, February 4–6, 2026.
Please review the guidelines and overview carefully!
Our featured selection for the 2026 Paint to Music Contest is Scheherazade, Op. 35, a symphonic poem composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in 1888. Inspired by the timeless tales of One Thousand and One Nights—also known as The Arabian Nights—this brilliant orchestral work has become Rimsky-Korsakov’s most celebrated and enduring masterpiece, emblematic of the lush style of late 19th-century Russian music.
Before beginning the score, Rimsky-Korsakov sketched the narrative framework that would guide the music. The story centers on Sultan Schahryar, who, convinced of women’s unfaithfulness, vows to execute each bride after her wedding night. To end this cycle, the wise and courageous Sultana Scheherazade offers herself in marriage. On their first night, she begins to weave a captivating tale, deliberately leaving it unfinished by dawn. The Sultan, eager to hear the ending, spares her life. Night after night, Scheherazade continues with stories of wonder, magic, and adventure—each one ending on a cliffhanger.
After 1,001 nights, the Sultan, transformed by her courage and imagination, abandons his decree. He falls deeply in love with Scheherazade, and together they live happily ever after with their three children.
As students listen to Rimsky-Korsakov’s sweeping score, they are invited to imagine Scheherazade’s tales and bring them to life through their own works of art. In this way, the Paint to Music Contest reflects the Symphony League of San Antonio’s mission: to inspire young people, nurture creativity, and foster a lifelong appreciation for classical music.
