Call for scores: International Composers Competition in Malaysia

The event is in collaboration with Tanjung Aru Marine Ecosystem Centre. It aims to offer opportunities for student composers to showcase their works and promote awareness of the beauty and importance of the existence of ocean life on earth.

Eligibility and guidelines

• Up to six finalists will be selected to participate in the competition and only three composers will be awarded.
• All finalists will receive recordings of their works and e-certificates for participation.
• One participant (not from the finalist) will be selected as an honourable mention, an e-certificate will be rewarded.
• Applicants must be enrolled as a student in college or university at the time of the event.
• The competition is open to composers of any age and nationality.
• Each composer can only submit one work.
• The score must be original, not yet performed or published, and newly composed for this event.
• Selected finalists must grant permission to Borneo Ensemble for future publication (digital and in print) of their selected works, including recordings of the performances and scores.
• The competition will be divided into two stages. The preliminary round will be based on the submitted scores and up to six finalists will be selected. A final live performance featuring the world premiere of all the selected works will be held in May as the second stage, where the winning compositions for the three prizes will be decided and announced.
• In the light of the seriousness and authoritativeness of the competition, certain awards will be left vacant if no composition meets the criteria.

Submission guidelines

• The score must show a connection to one of the selected five paintings (please refer to Appendix A).
• The score must be written for the designated trio (violin, piano, and kalimba) without electronics. Please refer to Appendix B.
• Submission of the score must be anonymous (composers must create a unique symbol for recognition purposes).
• The duration of the score must be between three to seven minutes.
• Submitted scores (full + parts) must be legible, professionally prepared full score and part scores (PDF format only); scanned copies of handwritten works are acceptable but they must be perfectly legible.
• Programme notes must be written in English, including a description of the connection between the composition and selected painting - minimum 300 words.
• Participant CV, including education background, and contact information (name and email address).
• A short biography in English – maximum 200 words.
• A scanned copy of your student ID (PDF Format).
• A high-resolution colour portrait photo (at least 2MB in size, but not more than 10MB).
• All documents including scores and part scores must be submitted in PDF format, except for the colour portrait photo which must be submitted in JPEG. 
• Applicants should submit the above materials here before 14 March.

Timeline

• Submission deadline: 14 March.
• Announcement on selected finalists: 4 to 6 April.
• Workshop: 1 May.
• Recording session for all finalists: 20 May.
• Concert with the world premieres of three award winners: 21 May.

Prizes

• First prize: MYR500 (about $119), recording, e-certificate, score publication and world premiere performance at the concert.
• Second prize: MYR300, recording, e-certificate, score publication and world premiere performance at the concert.
• Third prize: MYR200, recording, e-certificate, score publication and world premiere performance at the concert.
• Three finalists: recording, e-certificate and score publication.
• One honourable mention: e-certificate.

“Award winners are not required to attend the concert in person, although we hope they will,” Borneo Ensemble said. “Workshop will be conducted online. Borneo Ensemble cannot provide any financial assistance for travel expenses.”

View the original call here.