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Dear American Composer,

Welcome to the official guidelines pages for the Columbia Orchestra's American Composer Competition. It is our intention to foster the creation and performance of orchestral music by American composers. We hope that this competition will encourage and support your work, and that you will enter the competition. Please read these guidelines carefully to maximize your chances of winning. Please also consult our FAQ which will be expanded as questions arise.

Composer Eligibility:

• The composer must be a U.S. citizen or a ten-year resident of the United States.

• There is no age limit.

• The competition is not open to staff, board members, or members of The Columbia Orchestra or to members of their families.

• The work must be unpublished or self-published. The Columbia Orchestra will not pay rental, performance, or any other fee in association with the performance of the winning work on December 5, 2009.

• The work should not exceed 15 minutes in duration.

• Scoring should include, at a minimum, strings plus a significant number of instruments from other sections. Orchestration is limited to:
  *3*.*3.*3.*3--4.3.3.1--
  4perc + timp--hp--pno/cel/synth--str.
  • 3 flutes may include piccolo and/or alto flute.
  • 3 oboes may include English horn.
  • 3 clarinets may include E-flat clarinet and/or bass clarinet.
  • 3 bassoons may include contrabassoon.
  • Timpani may require up to five drums of standard sizes.
  • Keyboard may include piano, celesta or harpsichord, but only one player.
  • Percussion may include any battery and mallet instruments. The composer must provide any specialized equipment required (at no expense to the orchestra)
  • Custom-made instruments are permissible, but must be supplied by the composer.
  • Works that require electronic playback of a tape or CD (provided by the composer) are permissible. Works with interactive electronics or other media that require specialized equipment or personnel will not be considered.
  • There should be no choral or vocal parts, no organ part, and no concerto soloist.

  If you have any questions about acceptable instrumentation, we strongly encourage you to contact us before submitting your work (or deciding not to submit your work).

• The work need not have been composed recently.

• The work must not have had more than two public performances as of June 26, 2009. .

• Scores must be submitted in hard-copy. Hand-inked manuscripts and computer-generated scores are both acceptable. No preference will be given to either form. Preference will be given to scores that are legible and comprehensible.

• If the work requires any non-standard performance techniques, they should be clearly notated and accompanied by a written explanation.

• No markings may appear on the score that reveal or suggest the identity of the composer. A title may appear on the score.

• June 26, 2009 - Postmark deadline for application materials.

• August 7, 2009 - Announcement of the winner.

• August 21, 2009 - Deadline for receipt of orchestra parts supplied by the winning composer.

• December 5, 2009 - Performance of the winning work by The Columbia Orchestra in Columbia, Maryland.

The winner will receive a $1,000 prize. Additional travel expense compensation will be paid if the winning composer agrees to work with the orchestra at the dress rehearsal and attend the concert (see below).

Additional Details:

• One of goals of this competition is to have the composer of the winning composition work with the Columbia Orchestra during the dress rehearsal on the evening of December 4, 2009, and attend the orchestra’s performance of the winning work on December 5, 2009. To encourage such participation, a Columbia Orchestra Board member is willing to donate his frequent flyer miles to secure round trip airfare from within the continental United States to Baltimore, Maryland, contingent on availability of an award travel ticket. Required/requested dates, times, and city of departure may preclude availability of free airfare, but, every effort will be made to secure complimentary air travel for the winner.

• The orchestra will also provide an additional $250 payment toward travel expenses associated with participation in the dress rehearsal and concert. The $250 payment is fixed and will not be adjusted if associated travel expenses are greater or less than that amount.

• The Columbia Orchestra will not reimburse expenses for preparation of scores and orchestra parts. The Columbia Orchestra will not provide any compensation to any competition entrant other than the $1,000 prize, the $250 travel expense allowance, and (if requested) award travel airline ticket. The travel expense payment and airline ticket will be provided only if the winning composer participates in the dress rehearsal and December 2009 concert.

• All Columbia Orchestra performances are professionally recorded. The winner will receive a CD recording of the performance. This recording may be used or copied for personal and promotional purposes, but may not be sold or distributed commercially.

• There is no entrance fee for the competition.

• An anonymous score (a title may appear on the score).

• A completed application form which can be downloaded in PDF format for printing from the Columbia Orchestra web page at http://columbiaorchestra.org/compcompapp.pdf. Entries with incomplete application forms will not be considered.

• A recording (orchestral, piano, or electronic realization) of the work on CD. No markings may appear on the recording that reveal or suggest the identity of the composer. A title may appear on the recording.

• A curriculum vitae or biography may be included, but is also optional. See FAQ#7.

• Please include a postage-paid, self-addressed return envelope with your application if you want your application materials returned to you.

The Columbia Orchestra
Howard County Center for the Arts
8510 High Ridge Road
Ellicott City, MD 21043

For any questions regarding the competition, please start by reading our FAQ. If your question is not answered there, please contact the competition coordinator at compcomp@columbiaorchestra.org.