5th INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS

MAZSALACA, 8th-16th OF AUGUST, 2010

The international meeting of young composers is a tradition which goes back to 2002 and was started by the composer Andris Dzen?tis and his companions. For the three first times the workshop took place in the Castle of Dundaga, which is connected to many legends, but now, for the second time already, it is being organized in Mazsalaca – a small town in the north of Latvia, next to the snaky river Salaca.

The workshop is deliberately not being organized in cities – this is a possibility for technologically oversaturated and instantaneous demand-oriented people to feel themselves and to reconsider their spiritual values by being in simple or one could even say primitive conditions, by experiencing a modest and slow way of living. At the same time this one week is being dedicated to intense discussions, training, composing, presentations, individual training with lecturers, making new acquaintances, and enjoying the serene life.

The first four international workshops have gained a certain reputation both regionally and internationally and have gathered more than 50 participants from different corners of the world, 13 lecturers – internationally known composers from 7 countries.

THEME

Chamber music nowadays. Classics, innovation, aesthetics, boundaries.

LECTURERS
David Lang (USA)

Pär Lindgren (Sweden)

Richard Ayres (The Netherlands)

RESIDING MUSICIANS
Ensemble Aleph (France)

String quartet ReDo (Latvia)

PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOP

In order to participate in the workshop the candidates have to prepare mp3 audio recordings (advisable length – 5 to 10 minutes) of two or three previously composed chamber music pieces (for two or more instruments), which, together with scores in digital format (pdf), a detailed CV and a photo, must be sent by e-mail to the workshop organizers until the 15th of February, 2010.

E-mail: dundagaworkshop@gmail.com
The examining commission, which is composed of lecturers and participants of ensemble Aleph, will evaluate the submitted materials and will choose 10 active workshop participants. The results will be published by the 15th of May, 2010.

According to the commissions’ decision five of the chosen participants will be asked to compose for the ensemble Aleph, the other five for the string quartet ReDo. These pieces will be performed in the gala concert.
The chosen participants will have to conclude and send the compositions to Aleph and ReDo no later than the 5th of July, 2010.

The pieces must be conceptually finished by then. The workshop will be devoted to working together with lecturers and musicians in order to sharpen up the details and introduce realistic modifications.

The internationally determined age limit is 35 years. However, the organizers prefer not to object if this limit is exceeded.

There are also 10 places intended for observers. In this case there is no need to participate in the competition to be able to join the workshop. The service will be equal and it will be possible to attend the group work sessions, however the observer’s compositions will not be performed as well as the active participants will always be prior when it comes to individual training.

The Training and Education of Composers – an international survey

From the Centre for Music and Multimedia, Royal College of Music, London

PRESS RELEASE #01 – Jan 2010

Composers and songwriters generate significant cultural and economic wealth, so understanding their lifelong educational and training needs is crucial. For this reason a major survey of composers has been launched by the Royal College of Music’s Centre for Music and Multimedia. The survey seeks to investigate the appropriateness and effectiveness of training and education opportunities for music composers, both in prospect and retrospect. It will capture the experiences of a large number and wide range of composers and songwriters across Europe and beyond, in order to lobby for better opportunities and resources to study the art and craft of composing, including lifelong learning.

The survey has been developed by Professor David Burnand, Head of the CMM at the Royal College of Music, London; with support and advice from colleagues in the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors, the Contemporary Music Centre Ireland, the National University of Ireland at Maynooth, Leiden University Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, and the University of Hertfordshire.

Survey link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/composing

Contact:
All enquiries to: dburnand@rcm.ac.uk

International Summer Course for New Music Darmstadt

For the upcoming International Summer Course for New Music Darmstadt (July 17th to 31st, 2010) young composers are requested to submit ensemble pieces (preferably composed within the last two years) for the project ENSEMBLE 2010.

The works selected by a jury of four will be rehearsed by young ensembles par-ticipating in the project, together with the composers and renowned coaches like the conductor Lucas Vis, and will be presented in concerts. The composers selected will receive a partial scholarship to attend the Summer Course.

Applications must be send by April 15th, 2010 (as determined by the post-mark). Age limit at the time of the submission deadline is 35 years.

Detailed participation and instrumentation requirements can be found from January 2010 on www.imd.darmstadt.de.

ISCM World New Music Days 2011 Zagreb, Croatia

26th Music Biennale Zagreb 7-17 April 2011

A half-century anniversary – 50 years of Music Biennale Zagreb

Deadline for submissions is 1st of August, 2010

Members of the International Society for Contemporary Music as well as music publishers and individual artists are encouraged to submit their works according to the detailed instructions and criteria described in the call for works. Read more.

International Gaudeamus Young Composers Competition 2010

Are you a composer, born after September 6, 1979? Submit an application to the Gaudeamus Music Week and compete for the Gaudeamus Prize 2010: a commission worth €4550.

Deadline for submissions for the Gaudeamus Music Week is 31st of January 2010.

There are 5 categories: orchestra, chamber music, Javanese gamelan ensemble, electronic music and organ (Only works can be entered which suit the disposition of one of the 4 organs at www.orgelpark.nl and compete also for en extra prize)

Read more at www.musicweek.nl

International Competition for Chamber Opera Theatre Composition

Website: www.vocedellarte.it

ART. 1 We announce the third edition – 2010 – of Fedora Award for Chamber Operas composition.

ART. 2 The competition is open to composers of any nationality without age limit . To be eligible for the competition, compositions must be unpublished, unperformed, even partially, and never awarded in other competitions.

ART.3 The librettos can be written in one or more official languages of the European Community. For languages other than, Italian English, French, German and Spanish, unabridged translation in English language with the original text on the opposite page is required. In Any case, in addition, participants shall provide a short synopsis of the libretto typewritten in Italian and English.

ART. 4 The scores must conform to the following specifications:
– No more than 5 solo voices; one or more soloists can be substituted by acted or danced roles, not exceeding anyway the total of five characters.
– Possible presence of a chamber choir (of up to 12 singers);
– Instrumental ensemble of no more than 15 performers. Amplified and electro-acoustic instruments are permitted;
– Duration of no less than 45 minutes and no more than 60 minutes;
– Only one scene setting.
Should works include the use of non-conventional typefaces or symbols: explanatory tables of signs are required for proper interpretation of them.

ART. 5 The Competition is organized as follows:
During first step, participants should forward an opera plan by 20/03/2010 including:
– extract of the score lasting at least 15 minutes ( five,5, copies).
– unabridged libretto and its possible translation, as specified in Art.3 ( five,5, copies).
– summary (synopsis) in Italian language ( five,5, copies).
– summary (synopsis) in English language ( five,5, copies).

The Jury will meet to evaluate the projects and choose as maximum three opera plans that will be admitted to the second step.
The composers of the three selected opera plans will have to forward, by 15/10/2010:
– completed full score.
– one copy of the vocal score.
– note of possible differences between libretto sent for the first step and definitive text of final full score.
For any deadline, postmarks will bear witness.
The Panel will meet again to valuate completed full scores and deliver the definitive judgement.

ART. 6 The Panel will be able to decide not to proclaim any winning opera, to proclaim two ex-aequo winners or to point out one or more winning operas (even ex-aequo). Only the winning opera will be able to take advantage of the title of “Winning Opera of Fedora Award 2010”

ART. 7 Composers of winning opera commit themselves to forward to the Artistic Direction or to other characters pointed out, all performing materials in between 15 days starting from the official announcement of the final result, bearing all delivery expenses. Composers also commit to forward to the Artistic Direction and to all the performers all information needed for the performance.

ART. 8 The world premiere of the winning opera/operas will take place in Verbania in stage performance with costumes and settings during 2011. The Artistic Direction will also consider to perform the opera/operas in other theatres or festival whenever the artistic level of co-operating Companies should be considered suitable. In the period between the date of advancement to the second step of the selected operas and the date of the performance, scores cannot be totally or even partially performed, cannot be filmed and recorded on audio-video supports, cannot be broadcasted by radio or television or any digital advice, cannot be the subject of any contract regarding the exclusive right of edition and/or performance, of filming and/or recording.

ART.9 The Panel is composed as follows:
– Louis Andriessen, Netherlands;
– Giovanni Bietti, Italia;
– Lyell Cresswell, New Zealand;
– Enzo Restagno, Italia.

ART. 10 For the first step of the competition, the abstract of the score, libretto in unabridged version, its possible translation (see ART. 3) and synopsis must be sent with a distinguishing alphanumeric of 10 typefaces code on. The same code has to be written on another closed envelope containing:
– Name, surname, place and date of birth, citizenship, address, telephone number and e-mail address.
– CV containing information about artistic career and studies.
– Two pictures of the composers.
– A personal declaration of the composer in which he testifies under his own responsability, that the composition is unpublished, never previously awarded or performed.
– Declaration of agreement for free shooting and recording of the opera for its promotion and filing.
– Authorization to handle his personal information supplied for his/her participation to the competition to the limited extent of the competition management, according to the provisions of Italian law N. 675/96.
– Receipt of transfer of €60 (sixty/00) registration fee after bank taxes and currency change expenses on the following bank account:
IBAN CODE IT 71X 050 1022 40000000000 1283 –
SWIFT CODE: PIEMITTT
registered in the name of Atelier La Voce dell’Arte.
What indicated above must be sent in a single packet to:
“Atelier la Voce dell’Arte”, Via della Repubblica, 7 – 28193 – Verbania (VB), Italia.

ART. 11 Registration fee will be refunded only in case competition should not take place for force majeure reasons or for any other reasons not depending on Artistic Direction’s will.
ART. 12 Composers of operas to be performed will be hosted in Verbania on the date of performing.
ART. 13 The opera plans scores and librettos may be sent back at applicants’ contribution of €25 for delivery expenses coverage on explicit request after the completion of the competition. However, in any case, one copy will be retained to be part of the score archive of the Fedora Award.
ART.14 The decisions of the Jury are unquestionable and not subject to appeal.
ART.15 The request to participate and the submission of the operas to the Competition implies the acceptance of all the rules contained in this announcement by the participant.
The non-observance of the rules of this announcement will cause the decadence of any right deriving from the result of the Competition. In case of dispute, the original Italian
version of this advertisement will be considered valid.

ART.16 Any controversy concerning this advertisement will be solved according to Court of Piemonte Rules ( Regolamento della Camera Arbitrale del Piemonte) and in case of legal controversy, it will be submitted for settlement to the Court of Piemonte (Camera Arbitrale del Piemonte) according the Court Rules.

5th INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS

LATVIAN MUSIC INFORMATION CENTRE IN COOPERATION WITH LATVIAN COMPOSERS’ UNION

5th INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS MAZSALACA, 8th-16th OF AUGUST, 2010

The international meeting of young composers is a tradition which goes back to 2002 and was started by the composer Andris Dzen?tis and his companions. For the three first times the workshop took place in the Castle of Dundaga, which is connected to many legends, but now, for the second time already, it is being organized in Mazsalaca – a small town in the north of Latvia, next to the snaky river Salaca.
The workshop is deliberately not being organized in cities – this is a possibility for technologically oversaturated and instantaneous demand-oriented people to feel themselves and to reconsider their spiritual values by being in simple or one could even say primitive conditions, by experiencing a modest and slow way of living. At the same time this one week is being dedicated to intense discussions, training, composing, presentations, individual training with lecturers, making new acquaintances, and enjoying the serene life.

The first four international workshops have gained a certain reputation both regionally and internationally and have gathered more than 50 participants from different corners of the world, 13 lecturers – internationally known composers from 7 countries.

THEME: Chamber music nowadays. Classics, innovation, aesthetics, boundaries.

LECTURERS:

David Lang (USA)
Pär Lindgren (Sweden)
Richard Ayres (The Netherlands)

RESIDING MUSICIANS:

Ensemble Aleph (France)
String quartet ReDo (Latvia)

PARTICIPATION IN WORKSHOP:

In order to participate in the workshop the candidates have to prepare mp3 audio recordings (advisable length – 5 to 10 minutes) of two or three previously composed chamber music pieces (for two or more instruments), which, together with scores in digital format (pdf), a detailed CV and a photo, must be sent by e-mail to the workshop organizers until the 15th of February, 2010.

E-mail: dundagaworkshop@gmail.com

The examining commission, which is composed of lecturers and participants of ensemble Aleph, will evaluate the submitted materials and will choose 10 active workshop participants. The results will be published by the 15th of May, 2010.

According to the commissions’ decision five of the chosen participants will be asked to compose for the ensemble Aleph, the other five for the string quartet ReDo. These pieces will be performed in the gala concert.

The chosen participants will have to conclude and send the compositions to Aleph and ReDo no later than the 5th of July, 2010.

The pieces must be conceptually finished by then. The workshop will be devoted to working together with lecturers and musicians in order to sharpen up the details and introduce realistic modifications.

The internationally determined age limit is 35 years. However, the organizers prefer not to object if this limit is exceeded.

There are also 10 places intended for observers. In this case there is no need to participate in the competition to be able to join the workshop. The service will be equal and it will be possible to attend the group work sessions, however the observer’s compositions will not be performed as well as the active participants will always be prior when it comes to individual training.

PROCESS:

During the nine days of the workshop every participant will attend private consultations with all lecturers, as well as present his/her music, take part in rehearsals, seminars and discussions. Each lecturer will read two lectures on current issues of contemporary music. The theme of the workshop is only the axis around which different discourses concentrate. The official theme is not obligatory, and participants are given maximal creative freedom. During the workshop all conditions for creative, individual work will be provided.

CONCERTS AND FREE TIME:

Two concerts will take place during the workshop and both of the residing ensembles – Ensemble Aleph and string quartet ReDo – will perform compositions chosen by participants, by lecturers and music chosen by themselves. Every evening there will be an informal invitation for everyone to enjoy participants’ presentations.

PARTICIPATION FEE:

For active participants

From Latvia – 150Eur
From Estonia, Lithuania – 200Eur
From other countries – 300Eur

For observers – (number of places is limited. Please, apply for this option duly)

From Latvia – 200Eur
From Estonia, Lithuania – 250Eur
From other countries – 350Eur

The participation fee covers expenses of accommodation, catering, transport (Riga – Mazsalaca – Riga) and lecturers’ work. All the participants will be settled in hostel-type apartments with partial accommodations, meals will be provided three times per day, coffee, tee and water will be provided all day long. International travel expenses as well as insurance are not included in the participation fee.

CONTACTS
More detailed information about the workshop upon request:
dundagaworkshop@gmail.com

New Music Session 2010 with the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM)

Created in 1995 by Lorraine Vaillancourt (conductor and NEM artistic director) and Denys Bouliane, the New Music Session at the Domaine Forget in St-Irénée (Quebec), one of a kind in Canada, welcomes every year approximately 20 composers and performers from all over the world. During two weeks, participants get to work closely and daily with the musicians of the NEM and attend different workshops given by renown guest composers. At the end of the session, the participants (musicians) join the musicians of the NEM to perform the works written by the composers during three concerts at the Françoys-Bernier concert hall at the Domaine Forget.

Artistic coordinators : Denys Bouliane and Lorraine Vaillancourt
Guest composers in 2010 : Philippe Leroux (France) and John Rea (Canada)

You are a composer or a performer interested in taking part in the New Music Session 2010, download the application form.

Application Deadline : Friday February 26th, 2010

Informations : Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (NEM)
www.lenem.ca / info@lenem.ca / +1 514-343-5636
www.domaineforget.com