Call for scores: International Composers Contest in Ukraine

The annual competition is organised by the International Conductors Union (ICU), which runs both educational and concert programmes and collaborates with a vast number of institutions. Through the competition, the union seeks to discover new talent and give them a hand in realising their career and bringing their music to the world. 

“In the current situation, we believe that building a creative network and bonds between composers and conductors will contribute to the development of classical music,” ICU said. 

The jury members include Russian composer, conductor, pianist, musicologist and philosopher Mikhail Arkadev, Austrian composer and pianist Alexandra Karastoyanova-Hermentin and Norwegian composer Rune Rebne. They will use the 100 point system to evaluate each composition and select the top five entries by the highest scores. 

Interested participants can submit their scores in two categories: 

Symphonic music

Applicants in this category should consider the following:

• The scores must be orchestrated for symphonic orchestra of any genre (symphony, concerto, overture etc.).
• The scores may include choir or soloists (instrumental or vocal).
• The scores should not be longer than 20 minutes.
• The scores should include the following maximum instrumentation: – Fl -3, Ob -3, Cl – 3, Fg -3, Cor – 6, Trb -3, Trbn – 3, Tb – 1, Timp. – 4 pots, Per. – 3 players, Vni.1 – 14, Vni.2 – 12, Vle -10, Vc. -10 and Cb. – 4.
• The scores may include saxophones, flute “piccolo”, bass clarinet, corno inglés, contrabassoon, harp, piano or celesta.

The registration fee is €70.

Chamber orchestra music

Applicants in this category should consider the following:

• The scores must be orchestrated for symphonic orchestra of any genre (symphony, concerto, overture etc.).
• The scores may include choir or soloists (instrumental or vocal).
• The music must not be longer than 15 minutes.
• The instrumentation should be for a 25 musicians string orchestra (V1 – 8, V2 – 8, – 4, Vc – 4, Cb – 1) plus five wind instruments, and a set for two percussionists is the maximum.

The registration fee is 40€.

Note: Avoid the usage of rare or unusual instruments.

Prizes

The contest winners’ music will be performed live by the Odessa Opera Haus Orchestra at the Odessa Opera Theatre during the 2021-22 season. The ICU council may decide to use this music as an obligatory piece for one of ICU Conducting Competitions in 2021-22 – MICM&C, VCM&C, OICC. The information of the orchestras and dates will be announced in August 2021 directly to the winners by email.

The winners’ music will be published and performed by four professional orchestras in the 2021-2022 season.

• First prize – A performance on 3 June 2021 in Odessa plus three performances during the 2021-22 concert season. The dates will be announced later.
• Second prize – A performance on 3 June 2021 in Odessa plus two performances during the 2021-22 concert season. The dates will be announced later.
• Third prize – A performance on 3 June 2021 in Odessa plus one performance during the 2021-22 concert. The date will be announced later.
• Fourth and fifth prizes – Publishing.

Details on how to pay the registration fee and submit an application form are available here.

The application deadline is 31 March.

View the original call here.