Composers Competitions

International Competitions

British and International Bass Forum Composition Contest - Next approximate deadline: July 1, 2005. Biannual competition featuring works for double bass. 2003 rules - Three categories: unaccompanied double bass (first prize: £200; second prize: £100), two or more double basses (first prize: £200; second prize: £100), solo double bass and any other combination of instruments (2 prizes of £100 each). Open to composers of any age and nationality. Works should be unpublished, but may have been previously performed. Cash awards as noted above. Potential publication by Recital Music. Winning entries from the first two categories performed at Bass-Fest 2004 as part of the BIBF's 10th birthday celebrations. For more information, contact

Young Band Composition Contest - Next deadline: November 21, 2005. Sponsored by the College Band Directors National Assocation. Works for young band playable by middle/junior high school bands and high school bands of modest proficiency - "Level 3". Duration 6-10 minutes. Open to all composers. Anonymous entry. $5000 cash award. For more information, visit http://www.cbdna.org/pdf/2005ybcc.pdf

Masterprize: International Composing Competition - Approximate next deadline: December 2005. Orchestral works. Open to all composers. Competition held every two years. Grand prize: £25,000 (approx. $45,800), Finalists: £1,000 (approx. $1,800). Finalist entries performed by the London Symphony. Only one entry per composer per year. For more information, visit http://www.masterprize.com/.

Male Chorus Composition Contest - Next approximate deadline: March 1, 2006. Annual contest sponsored by The Associated Male Choruses of America, Inc. (AMCA). Works for male chorus - minimum of three parts. 2003 theme: "humor, cheer, well-being, entertaining." Open to all composers. $10 entry fee. Multiple entries permitted. Cash award, opportunities for premier performances by any of nearly 45 choruses. For more information, visit http://amcofa.org/contest.shtml

Michele Pittaluga International Classical Guitar Competition - Next deadline: March 31, 2006. Various small chamber settings including guitar. 2006: guitar with flute, violin or harp, duration 9 to 15 minutes. Open to all composers. Multiple submissions OK. Anonymous entry. Entry fee per work. Compositions submitted should never have been published or performed in a public concert. Works should be for 6 (six) strings guitar.Three winners receive cash award and publication of the winning work by Berbèn s.r.l. - Edizioni musicali. For more information, visit http://www.pittaluga.org/en/index.htm

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble's Annual Composition Contest - Next approximate deadline: April 15, 2006. Works submitted must be from a specificied instrumentation in any combination for 1-7 players. Open to composers of all ages and nationalities. $10 entry fee. Multiple entries permitted. Cash award, performance and CD recording of the performance. Works must not have been professionally performed. For more information, visit http://www.chambermusicpartn.org/contest.htm

Auros Group for New Music - Next deadline: May 16, 2006. Duos and trios taken from a set instrumentation. (See web page for specific instrumentation.) Open to all composers. $20/30 entry fee (depending on date of submission). Works may already have been performed. There is no minimum/maximum length requirement. There is no age requirement. Submissions should not be anonymous. The winning composition will receive a prize of $300 and a performance during Auros' 2007-2008 concert season. All works may also be considered for future programming. For more information, visit http://www.auros.com/competition.htm

International Composing Competition "2 Agosto" - Next approximate deadline: May 20, 2006. Works for specified genre, changes each year. 2005 genre: Trumpet and/or and Trombone and Orchestra. Less than 10 minutes in length. Open to composers of all nationalities who are under age 41. Anonymous entry. Works entered may not have been previously performed. Three winning works will receive a cash award and a performance in Italy. For more information, visit http://www.concorso2agosto.it/en/index.php.

The William Lincer Foundation - Next approximate deadline: June 1, 2006. Specific chamber settings that include viola. Other instruments involved change every year. 2005 instrumentation: violin and viola duo. 10-15 minute duration. Open to all composers. No geographic or age restrictions. Work may not have been previously performed in public or recorded. Anonymous entry, cash award of $500. For more information, visit http://www.lincer.org

dèdalo ensemble Associazione musicale Contemporary Music Brescia Italy - Next approximate deadline: June 16, 2006. From 3 to 6 players, taken from a set instrumentation. (See web page for specific instruments.) 5-12 minutes duration, must be unpublished, never performed in public, no previous awards. Open to all composers. Held in even years. Entry fee, cash award. Guidelines in pdf format available beginning autumn of the previous year. For more information, visit http://www.dedaloensemble.it/inglese/concorso/concorso.htm

Prix International de Composition Musicale "Reine Marie José" - Next deadline: August 31, 2006. Biannual competition. Works submitted must comply with a specific instrumentation which changes for each competition. 2006 instrumentation: Solo part (sung or instrumental) and electronics. Open to composers of all nationalities, without age limit. Anonymous entry. Cash award of 15,000 CHF (approx. $11,900), possible performance and broadcast. For more information, visit http://www.reinemariejose.ch

Queen Elisabeth Competition - Approximate next deadline: November 2006. Works for piano and orchestra, approx. 10 minutes duration. (2004 competition was for violin and orchestra - the two programs alternate.) Open to composers age 40 and under. Anonymous submission. Cash award, performance and possible radio/TV broadcast. Competition held every two years. For more information, visit http://www.concours-reine-elisabeth.be/

International Contemporary Music Competition "Città di Udine" - Next deadline: Unknown. Competition to begin in October 2005. Previous rules: Chamber works within a given instrumentation. Open to all composers. Unpublished works only, may have been performed. Max. duration 8 minutes. Separate category for electro-acoustic, analogical, and digital music. For more information, visit http://www.nauta.it/taukay/

Multinational Competitions

National Competitions

Regional Competitions