Call for applications: Composer residency in France

The call seeks to support the work of contemporary composers in the field of live electronic music. The winning composers will receive a commission from Musinfo to compose a new work for an acoustic instrument and sampo. The sampo is an electronic device that expands the sound field of an acoustic instrument.

Interested composers should send their applications via WeTransfer to concours-sampo2021@musinfo.fr.

The submission deadline is 13 December.  

The writing of the new composition will include two phases:

1. The winners will work with the P-Soft software, which emulates a sampo. They will exchange with the performers of OpusCentrum ensemble, who will prepare the works on their sampos.
2. The winners will be invited to carry out their residency in Saint-Etienne for one week to finalise their compositions and prepare a concert, which will take place during the 2021 Art & Science Days together with performers. Sampos will be made available to composers during the residency.

This year the performers of the residency are Germany’s Tiago Coimbra (oboe) and Japan’s Miho Hakamada (saxophone).

Applications must contain the following:

• Short biography (max 1 500 characters).
• Photo (for publication at the announcement of residents).
• Motivation letter.
• Short sketch to demonstrate the composer’s understanding of the work with P-Soft and sampo. (The sketch of one to two pages maximum and in PDF format, composed for P-Soft and a solo acoustic instrument, must be accompanied by the ‘bank’ file containing the configuration. The P-Soft software emulating sampo is available for download here. No other software or audio files may be used. The writing examples for sampo and help can be found here).
• One to 2 scores of recent compositions.

Any works containing electronics shall be accompanied by a recording of the work.

Rules of participation

• The competition is open to composers of all ages and backgrounds.
• Winners of previous editions of the contest cannot apply.
• The applications are made anonymous before given to the jury.
• The winners are selected based on the sketch, the letter of motivation and the sent scores.
• The sketch must be composed for P-Soft and a solo acoustic instrument. No other software or audio files may be used.
• An international jury will nominate the winners of the contest in February 2021. The jury may decide not to nominate any winners.
• The attendance of the laureates during the residency is required.
• The choice of instrument for the commissioned work will be made by Musinfo (either oboe or saxophone).

Financial conditions

• Registration is free of charge.
• Musinfo will provide meals, accommodation and domestic travel to and from Saint-Etienne.
• International travel costs will be borne by the winners.

Prize

• The winners will receive a commission to write a new composition.
• The winners will carry out a residency of one week, from 2 to 7 May 2021, in Saint-Etienne.
• The new composition will be premiered at the end of the residency during the Art & Science Days 2021 by OpusCentrum ensemble.

View the original call here.