Call for scores: OSSIA 2020-21 International Composition Prize

The prize-winning work will be presented by Eastman School of Music student performers at the final concert of OSSIA’s 2020-21 season in April or May 2021.

Composers aged 35 and under, as of 1 July 2021, of all nationalities are encouraged to apply. There is no entry fee and works may have been previously performed.

The submitted compositions should be scored for a chamber ensemble. OSSIA invites the submission of works involving unusual performative demands and interested composers are encouraged to view OSSIA’s current season programme here.

A panel consisting of members of OSSIA New Music will evaluate the pieces and choose the winning entry. All applications must be completed and received before 1 December 2020. The winning entry will be announced on 1 February 2021.

 Rules and guidelines

• The submitted work should be between five to 12 minutes in duration.
• The number of performers should be three to eight players, with some exceptions.
• Due to COVID-19 restrictions, OSSIA requests composers to limit the total number of wind instruments to four. Additionally, if writing for a vocalist, the total number of performers must be constrained to five.
• The use of electronics (i.e. audio playback or live processing) with instruments is acceptable.
• If submitting a work with electronics, composers should provide documentation describing how processing and diffusion needs to be done.
• Works of any style, aesthetic, and notation will be considered.
• Only one entry per composer.
• Submissions may have been performed previously, but pieces that have been performed and/or recorded by a non-university professional ensemble as part of their public mainstage season should not be submitted.
• Previous winners of the OSSIA call for scores are ineligible.
• No information that indicates or suggests the name or affiliation of the composer can appear anywhere on the score or recording of submitted work.
• Scores and recordings should be uploaded to a cloud-sharing service such as Dropbox or Google Drive and links should be provided on the entry form.
• A $750 honorarium will be awarded to the winner.

Submission process

The submission process is entirely online. Composers should follow the directions below to ensure that their application is successfully received.

All questions regarding the submission process or rules and guidelines should be emailed to info@ossianewmusic.org.

• Prepare an anonymous PDF score (with filename format TITLE_OSSIA.pdf) and, optionally, an anonymous MP3 recording (with matching filename format TITLE_OSSIA.mp3) of the composer’s work.
• All indications of the composer’s identity, affiliation or performing ensemble must be removed. Recordings are strongly encouraged, though submissions without recordings will be accepted.
• Upload the score and recording to an online file-sharing service (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
• Prepare a 200-word biography to be pasted into the submission form. (Biographies will be used when announcing the winning composer and will not be visible to the selection committee).
• Scores and all the required material should be submitted here.

View the original call here.