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TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL YOUNG COMPOSERS COMPETITION FOR 2014

 TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL YOUNG COMPOSERS COMPETITION FOR 2014
Summary:Chamber Orchestra Competition for US Composers
Deadline: 15 October 2014
Date Posted: 20 August 2014
Details: The Austin Peay State University Young Composers Competition has been held annually since 1987. Since becoming a national competition in 1993, the Department of Music and the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts have awarded prizes to composers from such prestigious musical institutions such as Peabody Conservatory of Music, Harvard University, Yale University, the Cleveland Institute, New York University, and the Eastman School of Music. Its purpose is to encourage young composers by providing professional-level performances of their music as well as financial incentive and support. Those composers winning first prize are traditionally invited to theAustin Peay State University campus for the performance of their music, a vitally important facet of the competition. While here, these young composers interact with both undergraduate and graduate students in composition and theory, talking to classes and meeting with composition students.

Now in its 28th year, the Young Composers Competition has grown from its early beginnings as a regional event to a well established national competition. This year will see an exciting new development for the competition as it begins a new collaboration with the Grammy Award nominated Gateway Chamber Orchestra. The Gateway Chamber Orchestra has been hailed as “a top notch performing ensemble that now enters the big leagues” and for presenting “world class” and “flawless” performances. Under the direction of music director and conductor Gregory Wolynec, the GCO has performed works covering a wide repertory featuring major works by contemporary American composers such as Chen Yi, Joseph Schwantner, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Steve Reich as well as lesser-known works by traditional composers such as Mozart, Dvořák, Louis Spohr and C. P. E. Bach. During the 2012-2013 season, the GCO will present performances of Michael Torke’s Ash, HK Gruber’s Frankenstein!!, John Adams’ Chamber Symphony, Aaron Jay Kernis’ Musica Celestis as well as symphonies of Beethoven, Haydn, Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde and the American première of Carl Reinecke’s Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra, op. 80.

$1500 FIRST PRIZE

The first prize winning entry will be performed during the 2015 – 2016 season of the GATEWAY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AT AUSTIN PEAY STATE UNIVERSITY

CONTEST RULES

This competition is open to student composers who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States and either must be enrolled in accredited public, private or parochial secondary schools, in accredited colleges or conservatories of music, or engaged in the private study of music with recognised and established teachers. There is no entry fee or application form. Applicant must not have reached their 30th birthday by October 15, 2014.

1. Works submitted should be drawn from the pool of instruments from within the Gateway Chamber Orchestra (standard chamber orchestra plus keyboard and percussion). The GCO is primarily an instrumental ensemble, but works submitted that include voice will be considered.
2. The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts will designate a secret panel of judges chosen from qualified University faculty and composers. Their decision will be final, with the right to withhold awards in the event that
no entry is judged worthy.
3. The composer’s name should not appear on the score. All works will be judged anonymously. A pseudonym should appear on the score. Attach to the score a separate letter containing the pseudonym and the
name, address and telephone number and email address of the composer.
4. Scores will not be returned unless a self-addressed stamped envelope of the proper size is enclosed.
5. Each composer may submit one score.
6. Each composition must satisfy the following conditions:
a. It must be between 4 and 15 minutes duration, with performing time listed on the first page.
b. It must be a copy; please do not send any original manuscripts. The Center of Excellence for the
Creative Arts will make every effort to return all materials, but disclaims responsibility for loss or accidental
destruction of materials in its possession.
c. Composers must indicate in the score whether the work is written in concert pitch or transposed.
d. A CD of the work, if available, should be submitted with the score. This is not a requirement.
e. In the case of ensemble works, clear, proofread parts must be available on request.
7. All entries must be postmarked by October 15, 2014 (Please Note New Date!)
Contestants will be informed of the results of the competition no later than December 2014.

SEND MATERIALS TO:
DR. JEFFREY WOOD (931) 221-7819 / (931) 221-7818
YOUNG COMPOSERS COMPETITION FOR 2014 E-MAIL: woodj@apsu.edu
Email:woodj@apsu.edu