Thanks to generous support from McKnight Foundation, five new works will premiere during the 2021-2022 season. Winning composers receive compensation ranging between $500 and $6,000 (see below).

TWO DIVISIONS: ADULT and YOUNG COMPOSER

Young Composer Entry Deadline: June 1, 2021

$500 awarded to a “young composer,” meaning any composer who meets the guidelines below, and is under the age of 19 before June 30, 2021.

Adult Composer Entry Deadline: August 15, 2021

Guidelines/requirements for eligibility:

• The submitted work must be a new, unpublished composition that has not been performed by a professional orchestra.
• Composers must be native born or current residents of the state of Minnesota.
• The work should be between five and eight minutes long (1- 2 movements).
• The instrumentation can be no larger than the following (Note: no divisis for any of the strings):
  • 1 flute (no double to piccolo)
  • 2 oboes (no doubles to English horn)
  • 1 clarinet (A and/or B flat, no bass or e flat)
  • 1 bassoon
  • 2 French horns
  • 1 trumpet
  • 1 timpani player (2 drums max) which can include ad lib percussion (drum set and a few auxiliary instruments. NOTE: If you include ad lib percussion, it, and the timpani must be playable by one person, and the percussion is not needed to give a good rendition of the work.)
  • violin I and II
  • viola
  • cello
  • bass
• The work must include the full string compliment listed above, but does not necessarily have to use all of the winds and timpani.
• The work can be an arrangement of another of the composer’s compositions, but the original piece also must be unpublished, and not have been performed by professional musicians in concert settings.
• The music must be written in a “approachable” style, appropriate for a broad mix of audience members –Avant-garde and/or experimental writing are not acceptable.
• Score must be prepared and submitted in music software Finale 26 or earlier, or Sibelius 7 or earlier. XML versions of Sibelius files will be required.
• All winning compositions and the individual parts must be formatted in 8.5×11” pages. Formatting instructions will be provided.
• Previous award recipients may submit new works after a five-year waiting period.
• Four composers will be chosen to receive the awards. Winning composers will receive between $2,500 and $6,000, the amounts to be determined by the Sinfonia.
• All decisions made by Minnesota Sinfonia Artistic Director, Jay Fishman are final.

Questions?

Contact: Jay Fishman, 612.871.1701, jay@mnsinfonia.org

Submit your piece, along with contact information and any notes to: jay@mnsinfonia.org

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Funding for this program generously provided by