Music Now Contest

Indiana State University
Contemporary Music Festival
Music Now Chamber Music Concert

Call for Scores

The Indiana State University School of Music invites the submission of solo/chamber scores for its 58th Contemporary Music Festival on October 23-25, 2024. Festival guests include Principal Guest Composer Shawn Okpebholo and Chicago-based chamber ensemble Picosa. Compositions selected from this Call for Scores will be presented at the Music Now concert on Friday, October 25, 2024.

Contest Guidelines

Deadline:
All scores must be received by June 30, 2024. Winners will be announced by July 31, 2024.

Eligibility:
There are no restrictions regarding the age or gender of the applicant. Contestants must be citizens or legal residents of the United States. Winners of the competition within the last five years are not eligible.

Length:
Compositions may not exceed 15 minutes in length.

Requirements:

  • Composers may submit one score only.
  • Submissions must be original compositions, not arrangements.
  • Works must be solo or chamber music compositions (1-6 performers).
  • Compositions must have been written since 2009.
  • Selected composers are required to attend the performance of their compositions at their own expense. A total of $200 in travel expenses will be reimbursed by Indiana State University.
  • Composers should secure their own performers if at all possible. Although every effort to find local performers will be made, pieces submitted may be disqualified if performers are not available. Funding for performers will not be provided by Indiana State University.

Application Process:

  1. Completed Online Application Form
  2. File submission:
    • One anonymous full score in PDF format (please omit name of composer)
    • A corresponding anonymous recording with title of composition (please omit name of composer). MIDI realizations, mp3, and m4a files are all acceptable. Please do not send wav or aiff files.
    • Electronic documents can be emailed to Paul Bro at paul.bro@indstate.edu or shared as file links via Dropbox/Google Drive/iCloud or other such services.

Incomplete entries will not be considered. All entries must be submitted no later than 11:59 EST on June 30, 2024. Entrants will be notified of the results of the Call for Scores by July 31, 2024.

Questions:
Dr. Paul Bro, Music Now Concert Coordinator
paul.bro@indstate.edu
www.indstate.edu/cas/cmf

Student Performer/Composer Recital

The Contemporary Music Festival Committee urges interested student performers and composers to take part in the 58th annual ISU CMF Student Performer/Composer Recital scheduled for Thursday, October 24, 2024. Due to the importance of this event, a high level of preparation and musicianship is expected from all participants. Auditions for this event will take place on Thursday evening, October 3, in PA 159. Students who are selected to participate in the Festival will be notified within two days.

The following factors play a role in the selection process: quality of audition, quality of work performed, and practical programming considerations. In addition, more weight will be given to students performing music by guest composer Shawn Okpebholo, or ISU student composers. The program will be selected to fit approximately 45 minutes of music.

Full Information: Application Information PDF

Eligibility

Participants must be undergraduate or graduate music majors or minors who are enrolled as full-time students and enrolled in performance study at ISU, both at the time of the audition and at the time of the concert (exception to this rule is made for students during their student-teaching or internship semester).

Repertoire Requirements

  • Solo or chamber works (for performers: work composed within the last 30 years)
  • Time limit: up to a total of 10 minutes
  • Contact your studio teacher or a festival committee member for assistance in finding repertoire

Application Requirements

  • Completed Online Application Form
  • Copy of score submitted to Dr. Bro
  • Consent to audition by applied teacher and Martha Krasnican (by September 19 if using an accompanist); verify consent on application
  • Live audition for CMF Student Recital Committee: Thursday, October 3 beginning at 6:00 pm

Application Deadlines

  • If requesting an accompanist, submit request to Martha Krasnican by September 19
  • Submit Online Application Form by Wednesday, September 26
  • Submit a copy of the score to Dr. Paul Bro by Wednesday, September 26
  • If chosen, program notes and performer biographies due to online form by Monday, October 7

Applications not complete by the application due date date will not be considered

Contact information: Dr. Paul Bro 812-237-2730 / paul.bro@indstate.edu

2024 Music Now Contest Winners

Erin Busch
Refract for solo cello (2022)

Corey Chang
Luminous Chroma for violin and guitar (2023)

Alexandros Darnan
Minnaloushe for violin, marimba, vibraphone, and piano (2019)

Andrew Hannon
Respire for Bb clarinet and fixed audio (2021)

Cooper Wood
Celestial Bodies for flute, alto saxophone, violin, cello, and piano (2024)

2023 Music Now Contest Winners

Deniz Caglarcan (b. 1992)
Void for Viola and Fixed Electronics (2022)

Nichagarn Chiracharasporn (b. 2001)
Streaming Music for String Quartet (2022)

Andrew Hannon (b. 1977)
respire (2021)

David Jones (b.1990)
Canzona for Brass Quintet (2022)

Mendel Lee (b. 1975) The Spaces Between for Percussion Ensemble (2020, revised 2021)

Kian Ravaei (b. 1999)
Unstoppable for clarinet, violin, violoncello, and piano (2022)

Monte Taylor (b. 1991)
Sigil II: Amistad (2019)

Lyu Wenbin (b. 1994)
Glow for Saxophone Quartet (2022)