Monday, November 30, 2015

Underwood New Music Readings Call For Submissions


25th Annual Underwood New Music Readings & Commission
June 13-15, 2016. Miller Theatre, NYC.
Submission Deadline: December 11, 2015. No Application Fee.


American Composers Orchestra announces its 25th Annual  Underwood New Music Readings  and
Commission to be held  in New York City at Miller Theatre, June 13-15, 2016. Up to seven  composers in
the early stages of their careers will  be selected to participate. One will  be awarded a $15,000 commission to write a new work to be premiered by ACO in a future season  at Carnegie Hall.

The Readings  are led by ACO Artistic Director, Derek Bermel and Artistic Director Laureate, Robert Beaser; and conducted by ACO Music Director, George Manahan. Mentor-composers are Sarah Kirkland Snider and Stephen Hartke.

The Underwood Readings  are the core of ACO's ongoing professional training programs for emerging American composers. Composers participate in two working Readings  with the orchestra, including a public  run-through performance. Composers receive feedback from ACO musicians, the conductor and mentor-composers. Each composer receives a high-quality digital audio  recording to be used for study, archival and career-advancement purposes. Composers also participate in a series of professional development workshops covering such topics as promotion, score preparation and publishing, copyright and commissioning agreements, and other career essentials.
Transportation, housing and meals  are provided. There is no application fee. Guidelines, info  and online  submission are available at:

Applicants must be either a U.S. citizen or non-citizen lawfully and permanently residing, or studying full- time, in the U.S. No age restrictions; however, applicants should  be at the early stages of their professional careers. Only works completed since 2011  that have  not beeperformed or read by a
professional orchestra, nor received a public  performance in the NYC metro area are eligible. Compositions must be less than 15 minutes; a portion or movement from a longer work may  be considered. Instrumentation should  not exceed: winds  at 3,3,3,3 (including standard doublings); brass at 4,3,3,1; harp, keyboard, timpani, 3 percussion, and strings (10,8,6,6,4).  Works employing electronics, MIDI,
digital technology, and/or sound  reinforcement may  be considered. (See special  instructions.) Works requiring soloists will  not be considered. If selected, composers must provide professional, legible orchestral parts and scores prepared according to Major Orchestral Librarians Association guidelines.

Questions and additional info:
call 212-977-8495 ext. 202
http://www.americancomposers.org/composers/calls-for-submissions/