The Tenth Annual Composer Institute

About the job

About the Composer Institute

The Orchestra Composer Institute, provides the opportunity for up to nine composers from across the nation to participate in an intensive immersion into the world of a major American symphony orchestra.

The Composer Institute, which is unique in the nation, features orchestral rehearsals, a public performance, and numerous targeted workshops with leading music industry professionals on musical, career, business and professional development issues. The Institute nurtures the participants’ musical acumen and broadens their career management skills, assisting in their growth as artists and community leaders. Many participants have said that the Composer Institute was the single most important experience of their musical educations. Seminar topics include many not offered elsewhere, including advanced instrumental and orchestral writing, copyrights, commissioning, licensing, publishing, promotion, music preparation, public speaking, working with conductors and union orchestras, community residencies, CD and media production, and working in educational settings, among others.

The Institute is directed by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis. Prior to and following the rehearsals and performance, composers receive feedback from Kernis, the Orchestra members, and Music Director Osmo Vänskä. There is no fee to the participating composers and many area composers who are members of the American Composers Forum audit the seminars free of charge.

SUBMIT
1. One bound and legible score of one orchestral work written within the last five years. Label the cover with your name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number.
2. Recording if available (on CD).
3. Bio/resume, including current address, telephone, e-mail, fax. American Composers Forum
4. One letter of recommendation from a composition teacher or music professional (via mail or e-mail to addresses given below).
5. A program note and information detailing the complete performance or reading history (if any) of the submitted work, including all dates and names of performing ensembles.
6. A complete performance history (if any) of any other orchestral works you have written, with names of works and performing ensembles and dates performed.
7. A check for return postage (made out to ACF) if you want your materials returned.

ELIGIBILITY
• Applicants must be U.S. resident composers at early stages of their professional careers.
• Composers who have participated in previous Institutes may not reapply.
• Only previous applicants who were awarded Alternate or Runner-Up status in past years may resubmit works previously entered, or they may
choose to reapply with a new work.
• Composers awarded Honorable Mention may not submit previously entered works, but may choose to reapply with a new work.
• Only one work per composer will be considered.
• Submitted works may not have received a performance or a reading by a major orchestra (over $3.4 million annual budget). Preference will be
given to unperformed works.
• Works may be up to 15 minutes in length (sections of longer works will be considered).
• Not eligible are concertos, choral works and works for strings, winds or brass only. Works with electronic elements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Instrumentation must not exceed: 4 fl (1 doubling picc), 4 ob (1 doubling Eng hn), 4 cl (1 doubling bass cl), 4 bsn (1 doubling contra bsn), 4 hrn, 4 trpt, 3 trbn, 1 tba, 1 timp, 3 perc, harp, pf/cel (no organ), strings.