Call for proposals: Voices of Hope songwriting project in the US

The project will commission eight songs to be written for and performed by the Voices of Hope prison choirs at the Minnesota correctional facilities in Shakopee and Stillwater. It seeks to inspire songs of varying styles and genres.

Composers and songwriters who are justice-involved (i.e., currently incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or closely connected to the carceral system) are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants do not have to have written or published music previously or have any formal musical training. If an applicant is selected for the project, final compositions may be submitted as notated sheet music or audio/video recordings.

Application process

Applicants are invited to submit a proposal outlining an idea for a song or choral work they would like to create before 15 August. Proposals will be reviewed by a panel that includes formerly incarcerated singers, songwriters/composers, choral music professionals, and the Voices of Hope staff. Applicants will be notified in early September if they have been selected for the project. If selected, the submission deadline for compositions is 1 December.

Proposal

The proposal is intended to guide participants’ thought process as they create their vision for a Voices of Hope composition. The proposal and any other optional material should be submitted by email to wearevoicesofhope@gmail.com before 15 August. Submissions will be reviewed at the end of August, and selected applicants will be contacted in early September. The proposal should include the participants’ full name, phones number, email and physical address.

The proposal should address the following:

1. Participants background, songwriting/musical background and their connection/passion for justice.
2. Their vision for a composition for Voices of Hope. Participants should describe as much as they can about the intended piece: What text has been selected? Will the song be accompanied by instruments? What is the approximate length?
3. How do the participants’ vision for the song meet the unique needs of a prison choir?

Optional application materials

Although it is not required, applicants who have previously composed other songs are encouraged to submit samples of those songs. Applicants may also submit a fragment of the piece they are proposing to write (i.e. the first eight measures, a melodic phrase, or a structural idea). These samples may be in the form of notated sheet music or audio/video recordings (of any quality).

Musical considerations

• Text: Applicants are encouraged to select a text (see texts via the original call here) for this project by current and formerly incarcerated writers. Applicants may also use alternate texts by justice-involved writers.
• Style/genre: All styles/genres will be considered.
• Accompaniment: Songs may be accompanied (piano preferred) or unaccompanied (if not too difficult). Voices of Hope choirs have a highly skilled staff pianist; other instruments may be accessible within each facility (especially guitar, electric bass, and limited percussion instruments). Each song should be composed such that non-keyboard instrumentation is optional.
• Voice parts: Voices of Hope-Shakopee is a high-voice choir (soprano and alto) and Voices of Hope-Stillwater is a low-voice choir (tenor and bass). Both ensembles regularly sing in unison (one part). Both ensembles also sing two- to four-part songs.
• Range: Songwriters should consider writing for a limited vocal range, especially in the upper register, as many singers are working with untrained or damaged voices.
• Level of difficulty: A majority of Voices of Hope singers do not have previous choral experience. Most learn music by ear, though some prefer reading notation. Additionally, rehearsal time is limited and unpredictable. Songs should be easy to learn, perhaps focusing on one teachable element (e.g. simple rhythm, but melodically advanced; simple melody but rhythmically engaging, etc.).

NOTE: Due to COVID-19, Voices of Hope staff and volunteers are not allowed to enter correctional facilities and have been facilitating virtual programming since March 2020. In order to ensure the success of this project, Voices of Hope is partnering with choirs at the University of Minnesota to offer virtual tools for teaching the songs selected for this project.

Awards

Eight composers will be selected to complete their proposed projects and will have their compositions premiered within correctional facilities by Voices of Hope choirs. Selected composers will be awarded $1 000.