SoundAdvice: Underwood New Music Readings Call For Submissions

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.

http://www.americancomposers.org/composers/calls-for-submissions/

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:

http://www.americancomposers.org/composers/calls-for-submissions/

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 been performed 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.