Boston Choral Ensemble's Commission Competition
| Boston Choral Ensemble's Commission Competition | |
| Summary: | Choral Competition |
| Deadline: | 01 May 2017 |
| Date Posted: | 14 February 2017 |
| Details: |
Boston Choral Ensemble's Commission Competition aims to identify a talented composer and support her or him in the performance of a new work for chamber choir to be premiered by Boston Choral Ensemble. The commissioned work will be rehearsed, prepared, and integrated into the Ensemble’s program during the calendar year 2018. Boston Choral Ensemble is a highly-skilled, auditioned choir of volunteers. Applicants are encouraged to consult past programs and audio samples to learn more about what might be appropriate for the ensemble. The Ensemble is soliciting proposals for unaccompanied choral works under 10 minutes in length. The texts may be sacred or secular and in any language. Details of the 2018 competition may be found below. Applicants with further questions are encouraged to contact the competition coordinator at Competition@BostonChoral.org. CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY This competition is open to composers regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or veteran status. The following groups are ineligible to enter the competition: • current Boston Choral Ensemble singing members; • current Boston Choral Ensemble board members; • current members of the Commission Competition Jury; • spouses, partners, or family members of any of the above groups; and • those who were members of any of the above groups within one year of entry deadline. PARAMETERS OF NEW WORK If selected as the competition's winner, the commissioned piece will meet the following criteria: Essentials • for UNACCOMPANIED mixed voices (SATB) • up to 10 minutes in length • generally no more than 4 parts but may include limited divisi (up to two per voice) • limited or no solo vocal material • the work must not have been performed in any public setting, recorded, promised to another group for first performance or first recording Texts This piece will be performed in our 2017/18 season during the Rainbow Connection concert which will be in May or June 2018 (tbc). This performance will honor the LGBTQAI community. The commissioned work can be on any subject however, it is strongly encouraged that chosen text be written by an LGBTQAI author or be about the LGBTQAI subject matter. Texts may be sacred or secular, and in any language provided it meets the parameters for the new work. If the intended lyrics are not in the public domain, and the composer is not the author and copyright holder of the lyrics, it is the responsibility of the composer to obtain permission from the copyright holder before the application deadline. ITEMS TO SUBMIT A completed online application form including 1 A short proposal idea for the new work outlining the details, at the discretion of the composer including, but not limited to proposed text, compositional technique, etc. (File name: Last Name, Proposal.pdf) 2 A short biography (about 250 words) and (File name: Last Name, Bio.pdf) 3 A works list, PDF files only. (File name: Last Name, Works.pdf) 4 Three (3) work samples that demonstrate current compositional activity. (File name: Last Name, Sample 1.pdf, Last Name, Sample 2.pdf, Last Name, Sample 3.pdf) ▪ It is recommended that composers include work samples that indicate skills appropriate to write for an unaccompanied choral ensemble. ▪ PDF files only. Notation files will not be accepted. Please combine ancillary materials—such as notes, texts, instructions—into a single PDF per work. ▪ Include (within the score PDF) an English translation for any text not in English. ▪ Include date of composition on the score. 5 Recordings of the submitted work samples (optional but recommended). Although this is optional, audio may assist in the initial assessment. These may be acoustic recordings or MIDI renderings; the quality of performances or MIDI renderings will not be judged. MP3 files only. (File name: Last Name, Audio 1.mp3, Last Name, Audio 2.mp3, Last Name, Audio 3.mp3) 6 An application fee of US $25 submitted via the application form. TECH TIPS Did you try to submit your application to BCE's Composition Competition but receive an error message or a blank screen? If so, please try one or all of the following to complete your application: 1. Update your browser to the most recent version 2. Make sure javascript is enabled for your browser 3. Download Google Chrome 4. If all of these do not work, please email all of your attachments to competition@bostonchoral.org and we will make sure that your application is submitted. Thank you so much for your dedication to the competition. We are so excited to review all of this new music! DISQUALIFIED SUBMISSIONS ▪ Late entries ▪ Incomplete entries ▪ Illegible copies DEADLINE AND PROCESS FOR SUBMISSIONS Materials must be submitted on or before May 1, 2017. Questions should be directed to competition@bostonchoral.org. Late applications will not be considered. APPLICATION FEES The $25 application fee can be paid on the application form. Application fees are non-refundable and will not be returned to those disqualified for not meeting the requirements herein. COMPETITION PRIZE The winner will receive a prize of $1,500. Payment will be in US funds only. Prize monies will be subject to applicable tax laws and it the responsibility of the winner to properly report the prize. The performance in concert of the newly-composed work will be recorded on CD and/or DVD. One copy of any such recordings will be furnished to the composer. RETURN OF MATERIALS No materials submitted for this competition will be returned. ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL The winner is encouraged to attend the final concert as well as any rehearsals for this event. Unfortunately, travel and accommodation expenses for the winner will not be covered by Boston Choral Ensemble. JUDGING The applications will be examined by a 4-5 person Jury chosen by Boston Choral Ensemble and will include the artistic director, a current member of the group, and one or two professional musicians not otherwise affiliated with Boston Choral Ensemble. The Jury will select a winner and identify any applicants deserving of an "honorable mention.” Boston Choral Ensemble, at the advice of the Jury, reserves the right not to award the prize. The Jury’s decision is final and may not be appealed. PUBLIC DISCLOSURE Boston Choral Ensemble will publicly announce the names of the competition winner (and "honorable mentions", if applicable), no later than June 1, 2017. The names of non-winners will not be made public and will be held in strict confidence. Composers whose works do not win the prize will be informed no later than June 1, 2017. |
| Web Site: | www.bostonchoral.org/commission-competition/ |
