Composers are invited to submit a new work for Ensemble Altera’s third annual Composition Competition. The winning work(s) will be premiered and recorded live (with the potential of being included on a commercial album) by the ensemble as part of its summer project, Dazzling Light. A prize fund of $750 is available. 

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ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Composers are invited to set one of several set texts on the theme of light (see texts below). The work should be an a cappella composition lasting between three and five minutes, scored for any combination of mixed voices up to eight parts (e.g.: SATB, SSATB, SSAATTBB, SATB.SATB). The competition is open to all composers, regardless of age or experience. The deadline for submissions is Friday June 30, 2023 at 5PM EDT.

 

The competition will be judged by a specially convened panel including Ensemble Altera director Christopher Lowrey, one core member of the ensemble, and one industry professional. The panel reserves the right to divide the prize money between multiple winners if there is no consensus, or, in the unlikely event that none of the submissions meets a minimum artistic standard, to choose no winner. Shortlisted composers from previous competitions are invited to re-apply, but we will not accept submissions from any composers who have won this competition in a previous year.

 

A shortlist of finalists will be chosen by the panel and announced by Friday July 7, 2023 at 5PM EDT. The winner(s) will be chosen and announced by Friday July 14, 2023 at 5PM EDT. The shortlisted finalists who are not named winner(s) will receive an honorable mention. All entrants will be notified of the result privately by email at each stage of the competition before results are made public.

 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

1. Entrants are required to submit a choral setting of one of the set texts included below.

2. The work should be scored for unaccompanied mixed voices up to 8 parts, for example SATB, SSATB, SATBarB, SSAATTBB, SATB.SATB.

3. The work should ideally last between three and five minutes, but shorter or longer works of exceptional quality will be considered. 

4. Scores should be typeset on electronic engraving software, delivered electronically in PDF form, and accompanied by a recorded sequence of the work.

5. The competition is open to composers of any citizenship, country of residence, race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or age.

6. Shortlisted composers from previous competitions are invited to re-apply, but we will not accept submissions from any composers who have won this competition in a previous year.

7. Only one application per composer will be considered.

 

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Scores should be sent in PDF form along with sequenced recordings and the attached application form to: ensemblealtera@gmail.com. The deadline for submissions is Friday June 30, 2023 at 5PM EDT.

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PRIZE FUND

A prize fund of $750 is available, to be allocated at the panel’s discretion, either to one or multiple winning compositions, or not at all in the unlikely event that none of the submissions meets a minimum artistic standard.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. The work must be original and the entry form signed with the written guarantee that it is solely the work of the composer. 

2. The work must not have had a public performance, nor a recording that is publicly available (whether commercial or not), nor a broadcast of any sort. 

3. The competition will be judged by a specially convened panel including Ensemble Altera director Christopher Lowrey, one core member of the ensemble, and one industry professional.

4. The winner(s) will be notified privately by email before a public announcement on Friday July 14, 2023; the first public performances of the work(s) will be given during the weekend of August 19 & 20, 2023 in Cambridge, MA and Providence, RI. The winning composer(s) is/are encouraged to attend the premiere where possible.

5. The winner(s) grant(s) exclusive rights to Ensemble Altera to perform for a period of 3 months, and to record the work(s) as part of Altera’s Dazzling Light project, as well as the option to include the work on a commercial album of the same name. These rights must be granted to Altera with no additional fees or licenses. 

6. Personal details on the entry form will be processed according to best data protection practices. The winning entrant(s) is/are expected to be identified and promoted in post-competition publicity and to agree to their name(s) being made publicly known. 

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JUDGING PROCEDURES

In an effort to prevent any conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest arising during the judging process, all submissions will be anonymized by a third party ahead of time and will be judged blindly by all members of the panel. A shortlist of roughly 5-10 pieces will be chosen by the panel, from which the winner(s) will be drawn. In all matters relating to the competition the decision of the panel is final and correspondence and requests for feedback will only be entertained for shortlisted pieces.

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Please click on the downloadable PDF for the required text and entry form. Submit all materials to ensemblealtera@gmail.com.