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Choral Composition Competitions?Date: April 11, 2013 by Sarah Loughridge  Views: 1932
Hi everyone! I'm a choral composer from Northern Ireland and looking for composition competitions. My work is mainly for SATB, medium to advanced level with piano accompaniment. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance!
Sarah
Replies (17): Threaded | Chronological
Tony Chau on April 11, 2013 3:41pm
Hello, Sarah. Pleased to be acquainted!
There's a choral comp. submissions competition held by the ACDA every year, as once told to me by my high-school choral director. If I remembered correctly, it's name is something very similar to the Ramon Bock Choral competition. It might be something that you want to look into. (Since I'm sure I'm buffering the name, it would be nice if someone who knows it's exact name could come forward with it.)
Now, the ACDA is the American Choral Directors Association, but I don't see why someone who is a decent choral composer regardless of his or her nationality couldn't also submit an entry (provided that its membership is barely just Northern Americans).
I am definitely intrigued by the idea of a friendly competition between composers. I might want to look into it myself and keep this thread updated as I find out more.
Tony Chau on April 12, 2013
I'm sorry, the name of the competition is Raymond R. Brock. So there we have it.
on April 11, 2013 7:05pm
Sarah:
I regularly check out two opportunity listings: www.composerssite.com, and the American Composers
Forum opportunities listings.
You must join the ACF to see the full listings; but the listings offer very brief summary
information which non-members can view, sufficient to locate the website of
whatever group is sponsoring the competition.
I have found that winning competitions has helped to get a few pieces into print. But you
won't acquire great wealth or lots of performances this way. (It is clear that some contests
fund their prizes through entry fees.) If you want lots of performances,
even if someone else is publishing your music, then you need to make personal contacts with
lots of choral directors. Hardly anyone accumulates great wealth by composing and selling choral
music; but probably the most lucrative thing you can do is find choruses who want to
commission you to write music. This again requires that you develop and foster personal
contacts.
You should join the Composers of Choral Music Community here on Choralnet. This will give you
a chance to interact with other composers who have gone through what you are going through.
For example, there has been some lively and useful discussion of the relative merits of
publishing versus self-publishing. I looked around on line to see if you have a website.
You don't, but then, neither do I. That's my next project.
Let us know more about your music, Sarah!
Cheers,
Brian Holmes
Applauded by an audience of 3
on April 13, 2013 9:22am
Here is the ACF opportunity listing http://composersforum.org/opportunities-upcoming
I discover that I no longer have access at composerssite.
BH
on April 12, 2013 3:17am
Hello Sarah,
You may find some useful information at the site of the Association of Irish Choirs - http://www.aoic.ie/utility_links/home/
The Cork International Choral Festival does commission pieces, so it would be worth looking at their sites too.
From time to time choral composition conpetitions are advertised here, so check out the archives.
As you are in Northern Ireland, don't forget to check out also the Association of British Choral Directors. (ABCD)
Hope your weather in Northern Ireland has improved!
David Monks
Le Choeur d'Alzonne
France
on April 12, 2013 7:39am
The Young New Yorkers' Chorus is collecting submissions for their 9th annual Competition for Young Composers. This competition is for composers under the age of 35, and many rising stars in the field have had new works performed in NYC as a result of this competition.
on April 13, 2013 4:29am
Hi Sarah,
A few selections from my favourites menu (I'm a composer based in Scotland, so I've got a lot of UK links):
http://www.jamconcert.org/submit_music.html - John Armitage memorial, free call for music for choir, organ and brass quintet (they claim they'll consider music just for choir, or choir and organ)
http://www.theesoterics.org/Polyphonos - Esoterics polyphonos competition for a cappella choir.
http://yalegleeclub.org/New_Music - just missed the deadline for this year but it's an annual competition
http://www.soundandmusic.org/resources/opportunities/2013/joyful-company-singers-choral-composition-competition - if you're under 30
Listings of competitions:
http://www.soundandmusic.org/resources/opportunities (select interest "composition" and click "apply"; searching by location and type will miss out a lot of things that aren't properly listed)
Hope that's helpful.
Chris Hutchings
www.hutchingsmusic.co.uk
on April 16, 2013 5:30am
Thanks everyone! I'll get onto that right away!
For those who were asking, my website is www.sarahloughridge.weebly.com but I haven't had it up and running for long so it maybe hasn't had time to get to the of the list!
Sarah
P.S. David, the temperature has crept up to a scorching 9 degrees C - a day for the beach! ;)
on May 27, 2013 8:00pm
Hi All,
We're hosting a composition contest, and while it's geared towards religous pieces (both instrumental and choral) we do not require any religous affliation. We seek inspiring music more than anything.
No entry fee is required. There are three categories and the following prize purse for each:
1st - $2,500
2nd - $1,000
3rd - $500
More information can be found at the following link: http://yourldsmusicstore.com/contest/
All the best!
Applauded by an audience of 1
on May 30, 2013 11:17am
Regarding William Copper's posting above, tne point he highlights, regardless of the generous prized, gave me cause to pause.
I assume that in the event of a piece being chosen for publication there would be a sale price attached to it. But I don't recall reading this, or whether the composer would benefit in any way. Nor was it clear on whether it would limit or extinguish the composer's personal right to the use of such a piece.
Alex might be able to throw some light on these points..... Can you help, please, Alex?
David Monks
Le Chœur d'Alzonne
France
on May 30, 2013 7:11pm
You bet. I actually spoke to a few people and your concerns led us to change this line in the contest agreement. Hopefully this will happen tomorrow (Friday). I will let you know when the change is reflected on the website. Regardless, it will change to the following:
I verify that the music I am submitting is my original composition/arrangement. If my composition wins First, Second or Third prize, I will allow yourLDSmusic.com and/or its parent company the exclusive right to publish my winning composition for three years.
I hope this helps and ease any concerns.
All the best.
Alex
on May 30, 2013 8:48pm
Dear Alex,
It would seem to me that even the changed language is still quite lacking in any basic contractual/legal clarity. It says nothing about any intentions of creating a specific contract for a specific piece, and delineates nothing about royalties or income sharing. It also states nothing about copyright status either short or long-term. It states nothing about the responsibilities for manuscript prep or marketing. In other words, the lack of detail is quite pronounced. I think your organization is still a long way away from being truly specific about your intentions regarding any pieces submitted to you. I am not trying to be critical or hurtful- just realistic about what is still lacking.
Let me suggest this- simply state that the 1st through 3rd place winning pieces will be OFFERED a contract (which includes royalties for the composer) to publish the piece through your organization. This way you will be offering the composer a nice option but not dictating what happens next. By being more flexible you will also gain some time to get some more specific details worked out about your plans- and maybe get some pro bono legal help regarding contract law.
Some of you may be interested in reading a blog of mine from the past about composition competitions and their value, or lack of real value- and how they can be manipulative and negative (should the creation of art be a competitive sport?). You can read that here: http://paulcarey440.blogspot.com/search/label/Ray%20Fahrner
Sincerely,
Paul Carey,
www.paulcarey.net
Applauded by an audience of 2
on May 31, 2013 7:34am
Sarah,
This won't help you at all, but for Canadians who read this list, here is a link to an important composition competition hosted by the Da Capo Chamber Choir: http://www.dacapochamberchoir.ca/newworks
Len Ratzlaff
University of Alberta
on May 31, 2013 8:00am
Hello Alex,
Thank you for coming back so speedily with your reply. I fear that I have to agree with what Paul Carey says. Please understand that I say this in the kindest way possible. But even the revised wording is too inadequate. And it in no way addresses the questions of pricing, composer's rights or royalties. There is nothing to indicate that the arrangement would be fair and equitable from a composer's point of view, and no mechanism to cover a situation of dispute. LDS Music Store needs to be far more specicific as to the legalities. Really Paul has laid out the position so well I can only refer you back to his excellent posting.
Whilst it may be tedious to go into such detailed formalities, this is the real world, so rights and obligations on both sides must be clearly set forth.
on May 31, 2013 9:07am
I much appreciate Alex's response, and correction to the text of the competition (above) ; I don't think it's possible to put too much legal language in a competition announcement, and personally feel that as now presented it's a reasonable compromise: you win, they win, and if you aren't happy with how they market your music, take the next piece elsewhere.
William
on May 31, 2013 10:59am
The lanuguage in my previous post has been added to the contest information. You'll find it at the following link: http://yourldsmusicstore.com/contest/
I appreciate the comments and concerns. Your further questions have led us to begin developing a web page that details royalties, obligations, copyrights, and further explaining our objectives. I will let you know when this information is live. It may be a few days though.
We may not be able to make everyone feel 100% at ease, and we understand that. We're doing our best and we appreciate the entries that have come through because of choralnet.org.
Again, thank you for your comments. This will help us as we offer composition contests in the future.
Alex
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