One step above not being mentioned at all, one step below actually receiving any prize money.
Sometime late last year, I entered my three-movement handbell and piano composition "The Sublime Numbers" in the 2006 SoundPrint Productions Handbell Composition Contest. (What is a "sublime number"? I'm so glad you asked.) This afternoon, I learned that "The Sublime Numbers" was one of two pieces awarded honorable mention in this contest. (There were two pieces awarded first place, so "TSN" was basically tied for the bronze medal.) I had really bipolar opinions of "TSN" — some days I loved it, some days I could barely listen to it — so I'm quite happy that the judges seemed to agree with the former opinion.
Also, yay me.
(Also, here is an MP3 of the first movement, "12.")
i sincerely do not know what you are doing here. are you lost? were you
looking for your delicate calico cat, and did you follow her up two flights of stairs
to this room? she is not here. she was here, yes. we gave her a warm bowl of milk, we talked with her about campaign finance reform for a time, and then she bid us good day. i believe she was
going to the post office two blocks down, but i don't quite recall.
for surely you did
not find your way from prinsiana, the least traveled site on
the internet. if you did, though, perhaps you are looking for humor. perhaps you are looking for profundity. perhaps you are looking for answers.
i'm sorry, but you shall go naught-for-three.
