No need to feel sorry - there is no right to be commissioned by anyone, and whilst it would be great to have a piece used at a contest such as the Nationals, to a composer it isn't (at least shouldn't be!) the be all and end all. There's a big wide musical world out there, and part of the fun of being a composer is that, should you want to, and should you work hard enough, you get to see and be part of it.
Picking pieces must be a balancing act - without the paying public the contest couldn't happen, and if the promoters feel that the best, or only, way to get bums on seats is to pick more conservative music, then you can understand their decision. The flip side to that coin is that should you pick some new, exciting, different music, the chances are you are going to appeal to a different audience, and probably one that is - in general - younger, therefore safeguarding the long term future. But it is a risk.
I also think people should reserve judgement on any new piece until they have had chance to hear and digest the work - am pretty sure none of the bands would like to be judged before they have played a note! ;-)
