Wellington Jazz Festival announces four exciting jazz commission opportunities

Submissions are now open for four new jazz commissions by New Zealand composers to be presented at a re-scheduled Wellington Jazz Festival, 1822 November 2020.

We know Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on musicians, technicians and many of the Festival’s regular music venues, bars and eateries across the region and country. In response, the Festival has reshaped its planned programme, shifted it to Spring, and is putting its resource and energy into ‘loving local’ – bringing audiences the finest homegrown jazz live in Wellington’s best music spots.

As well as playing at the Festival, one way we can support artists is to invest in them to create new music. This year, we’re providing an increased number of composition and performance opportunities for Aotearoa-New Zealand jazz composers and musicians.

Made possible by support from Creative New Zealand and Todd Corporation, a fee of between $10,000 and $12,500 for each commission will be awarded to composers to create a new piece of jazz music that will premiere at the Wellington Jazz Festival in November. The Festival is committed to inclusion and developing and celebrating the sounds of Aotearoa, and at least one commission will be awarded to a Māori composer.

Submissions are open now and close 5pm, Friday 3 July. The commissions are open to New Zealand-based citizens or residents and will be selected by a panel of jazz experts.

Full details on the Jazz Festival’s website.

CSO CompositionLab

The Christchurch Symphony Orchestra is delighted to let you know about CompositionLab.  

CompositionLab is a three-part workshop where selected composers work in an in-depth manner with a CSO conducted ensemble to read and revise a sketch of a composition and test out new ideas.

This is a great opportunity for graduates or postgraduate students of composition to test out their musical ideas, develop them in conjunction with experienced professional musicians. Mentoring is available from established composers Chris Cree Brown (Winner of the 2010 APRA Silver Scrolls Contemporary award) and UC Head of New Music Reuben de Lautour if requested. 

Over three 3-hour sessions in September, up to four composers will be able to revise, test and try out their sketches of new compositions during readings with a conducted ensemble.

It is not necessary to submit a completed composition; in fact, we highly recommend you submit a work in progress that you would like to develop.

Orchestration available: single instruments: 1/1/1/2/0 1111.1111 timp, perc, harp

Notes on orchestration:

1.   Woodwind doubling is available.

2.   Percussion instruments will be played by one player only. Available instruments include:

  • Bass drum
  • Snare drum
  • Suspended and crash cymbals
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Tam Tam
  • Glockenspiel
  • Xylophone

Other percussion instruments can be requested for inclusion but is permitted at the discretion.

The workshops will take place in the Ron Ball Studio in the CSO Centre, Christchurch Town Hall over three weekends in September.

  • Friday 4 September       7–10pm
  • Saturday 5 September   1–4pm
  • Saturday 26 September  1–4pm

After the last workshop, there will be an informal performance in the Ron Ball Studio.

Applications close at 5pm 27th March.

If selected composers are based outside of Christchurch, the CSO will provide domestic flights.  Accommodation is at participants’ own expense.

For more information, please contact Head of Community Engagement Cathy Irons at cathy.irons@cso.co.nz or on 03 943 7797 ext. 2007.

Apply for CompositionLab

ISCM/ACL Festivals Social Media Update

The 2020 ISCM World New Music Days Festival will take place in Auckland and Christchurch, 21 – 30 April, coinciding with the Asian Composers League Festival in Christchurch from 28 April – 2 May.

This is the first time in ISCM’s 98-year history that World New Music Days has been hosted in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We cannot wait to bring you new music composed within the last 10 years by composers from 50 nationalities, international music leaders, composers and ensembles, an array of exciting New Zealand works, as well as performances by New Zealand’s top musicians including the APO and CSO.

Stay up to date with what’s happening at the Festival by connecting with us:

Call for Conference Proposals extended to 12 February

The deadline for the Conference (“Music Ecosystems”) attached to the ISCM 2020 World New Music Days has been extended to 12 February. CANZ members in particular are warmly invited to submit proposals. Visit the website https://www.iscm2020.nz/conference for further information and the submission process.

Music Ecosystems Conference: Auckland, New Zealand

24–25 April 2020

Open Call for Proposals

As part of the ISCM 2020 World New Music Days we invite proposals for papers/presentations that reflect on our changing music ecosystems, and may coincide with one or more of the following themes:

  • musical villages
  • music and the environment
  • the musical globe
  • sustainability
  • dislocated musics
  • internationalism and music
  • musical (r)evolutions

Papers on topics outside these areas, but falling within the scope of the general theme, are also invited.

Proposals should be submitted via the festival website https://www.iscm2020.nz/conference by Friday 7 February 2020.

All abstracts will be peer reviewed by two members of an assessment panel convened by ISCM President, Assoc Prof Glenda Keam. Submitters will be advised whether their proposal has been accepted by Friday 28 February. Note that both formal and informal presentation styles are welcome. Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes, with a further 10 minutes discussion.

Please note: Select conference papers/presentations will be invited for publication in the new online platform Naxos Musicology International (accessible via the Naxos Music Library). Contributions may of course be edited and revised by authors for the purposes of publication.

If you have any questions, please get in touch on info@iscm2020.nz

Ngā mihi nui,

Claudia Ruff
Festival Co-ordinator
ISCM 2020 World New Music Days & ACL Festival
info@iscm2020.nz

University of Otago Philip Neill Memorial Prize 2020

Established in 1943 and first awarded in 1944 to Douglas Lilburn, the Prize is awarded annually for excellence in original composition.

The competition is open to all past and present students of the universities of New Zealand and in 2020 is valued at $1500.

2020 topic and requirements

Compose a work for mezzo soprano, violin and piano using any text or texts.

  • You may substitute piano with electronic backing track or live electronics.
  • The work may be divided into more than one song, or may be a continuous piece.
  • The work should be between 10–15 minutes in duration.
  • The work should be written for professional musicians but must not be unreasonably difficult technically.
  • Please include a MIDI recording with the full (physical) musical score.

Please note these requirements should be read in conjunction with the Prize Regulations, available here as a PDF document.

Applications close with the University on 1 July 2020.

All related enquiries can be made to: scholarships@otago.ac.nz.

The 36th ACL Festival Young Composers Competition

The Asian Composers League Festival in Christchurch, New Zealand invites works from composers under the age of 30 (born after 2 May 1990) for string trio: violin, viola and cello (or 2 violins and cello). Works should be under 6 minutes in duration.

Please submit your scores to CANZ, who will select one composer representative, and send required materials (see below) to president@canz.net.nz before 23 December 2019

By submitting works to this Call, composers are agreeing that if their work is selected for performance/presentation then they grant automatic permission for the ACL performance/presentation of their work to be recorded, broadcast, and streamed from the website without additional financial liability to the ACL or the Festival Organisers. 

INFORMATION REQUIRED for each Work to be submitted is:

  1. The composer’s personal and contact information: Given names; Family name; Name as it should appear in the programme; Date of birth; full Mailing address; Gender; Phone no.; email address; website (if applicable).
  2. Work information: Title; Submission Category; Accurate duration; Year of composition; Statement of whether the work has been previously performed.
  3. The score (.pdf document preferred), or audio/video documentation if the work does not have a written score – as described in the Work Categories.
  4. An audio or video recording of the work (if available).
  5. Programme notes for the submitted work in English (maximum 100 words).
  6. Technical rider specifying all equipment necessary to perform the work.
  7. Short biography of the composer in English (maximum 100 words).
  8. High-resolution digital photograph of the composer.

Call for works: Asian Composers League Festival 2020

We are pleased to announce the official Call for Works for the Asian Composers League Festival 2020. Member organisations are invited to submit scores/projects for the festival, taking place in Christchurch from April 28 – May 2, 2020. For detailed information about the Call for Works, see iscm2020.nz/acl-2020.

CANZ members should email their submissions to president@canz.net.nz no later than August 31, 2019. Late submissions will not be considered. Submissions will only be accepted from CANZ Members. Individual submissions will not be considered.

PLEASE NOTE: A separate call for the ACL Young Composers Competition will be issued in early September.

The 2020 ACL Festival will overlap with the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days, which begins in Auckland on 21 April 2020. Composers wishing to attend the ACL Festival are encouraged to also attend the ISCM World New Music Days: iscm2020.nz.

IN GENERAL

Priority will be given to works shorter than 12 minutes in duration, and to works written since 2012. Only one work per composer may be submitted.

The composer may offer to supply traditional instrumentalists/vocalists as additional elements in works submitted for categories 4, 5 and 8, however any such supplementation must be at the composer’s own cost. In such case, the name and contact details of the performer must be supplied at the time of submission, and their availability for performance in the festival already agreed.

By submitting works to this Call, composers are agreeing that if their work is selected for performance/presentation then they grant automatic permission for the ACL performance/presentation of their work to be recorded, broadcast, and streamed from the website without additional financial liability to the ACL or the Festival Organizers. 

INFORMATION REQUIRED for each Work to be submitted is:

  1. The composer’s personal and contact information: Given names; Family name; Name as it should appear in the programme; Date of birth; full Mailing address; Gender; Phone no.; email address; website (if applicable).
  2. Work information: Title; Submission Category; Accurate duration; Year of composition; Statement of whether the work has been previously performed.
  3. The score (.pdf document preferred), or audio/video documentation if the work does not have a written score – as described in the Work Categories.
  4. An audio or video recording of the work (if available).
  5. Programme notes for the submitted work in English (maximum 100 words).
  6. Technical rider specifying all equipment necessary to perform the work.
  7. Short biography of the composer in English (maximum 100 words).
  8. High-resolution digital photograph of the composer.

WORK CATEGORIES

1. Solos

Solo works for piano, violin or viola (1 performer), or percussion (1 performer) – glockenspiel, vibraphone, pr bongos, suspended cymbal, large tam-tam, kick drum, concert bass drum, triangle, woodblock, cowbell and auxiliary percussion or found objects that would fit on a trap table.

2. Duos

Works for violin or viola (1 performer) and percussion (1 performer) – glockenspiel, vibraphone, pr bongos, suspended cymbal, large tam-tam, kick drum, concert bass drum, triangle, woodblock, cowbell and auxiliary percussion or found objects that would fit on a trap table.

Works for violin or viola (1 performer) and piano.

3. Taonga Puoro

Taonga puoro soloist, with/without flute/piccolo soloist (information sheet available).

4. Piano Trio

Violin, cello, piano.

5. String Quartet

2 Violins, viola, cello.

6. Chamber Ensemble

Works for 3–10 players, instruments drawn from the following list: flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion (1 performer), piano, violin, cello, double bass.

7. Orchestra

3 fl (II=picc, III=picc,afl). 3ob (III=corA). 3cl (III=bcl). 3 bn (III=cbn). – 4hn. 3 tpt. 2tbn. 1 btbn. 1 tuba – 3 perc. 1 timp. 1 hp 1 pno – strings (10/8/6/6/5).

8. Electroacoustic

Electroacoustic music for fixed media or live electronics, with up to 16 channels, in a surround-sound arrangement of two 8-speaker rings.

9. Audiovisual and Installation Works

For gallery/exhibition presentation (i.e. non-concert presentation). Some installations may be positioned in an outdoor environment. Preference will be given to works that bear some relationship to the theme of Music Ecosystems.

Please submit an artist CV in English (up to 2 pages), .pdf description of the work (500 word max), a list of equipment and installation materials, and online support material (2 examples of work). Short-listed applicants will be contacted for additional materials.

ARTISTIC TEAM

Glenda Keam (Festival Director, and President of the ISCM)
Samuel Holloway (Associate Director – Artistic)
Chris Gendall (CANZ President, and ExCom member of the ACL)

CONTACT
president@canz.net.nz

2020 International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) World New Music Days in New Zealand

OFFICIAL CANZ SUBMISSION

The official CANZ submission will comprise six works across at least four of the 15 different Score Categories identified in this Call for Works. For an official submission to be eligible each submitted work must be eligible, the durations specified for each work must be accurate, and the submitted works correctly aligned with the relevant category. Assuming the submission is eligible and the ISCM member is in good standing we guarantee that at least one of the submitted works will be presented during the 2020 ISCM World New Music Days.

IN GENERAL

Priority will be given to works shorter than 12 minutes in duration, except where specifically noted in a category description (see below). Furthermore, priority will be given to works written since 2012. Only one work per composer may be submitted, by either Individual submission or Official submission.

By submitting works to this Call, composers are agreeing that if their work is selected for performance/ presentation then they grant automatic permission for the ISCM performance/presentation of their work to be recorded, broadcast, and streamed from the website without additional financial liability to the ISCM or the Festival Organizers. 

INFORMATION REQUIRED

Information required for each Work to be submitted is:

  1. The composer’s personal and contact information: Given names; Family name; Name as it should appear in the programme; Date of birth; full Mailing address; Gender; Phone no.; email address; website (if applicable).
  2. Work information: Title; Submission Category; Accurate duration; Year of composition; Statement of whether the work has been previously performed.
  3. The score (.pdf document preferred), or audio/video documentation if the work does not have a written score – as described in the Work Categories.
  4. An audio or video recording of the work (if available).
  5. Programme notes for the submitted work in English (maximum 100 words).
  6. Technical rider specifying all equipment necessary to perform the work.
  7. Short biography of the composer in English (maximum 100 words).
  8. High-resolution digital photograph of the composer.

Email all material to president@canz.net.nz by 11 July 2019.

WORK CATEGORIES

1. Piano plus

1a) Solo piano

1b) Solo piano (prepared)

1c) Solo piano with fixed audio media

2. Violin plus

2a) Solo violin / viola

2b) Violin or viola, and piano

2c) Violin or viola, and percussion (1 player: glockenspiel, vibraphone, pr bongos, suspended cymbal, large tam-tam, kick drum, concert bass drum, triangle, woodblock, cowbell and auxiliary percussion or found objects that would fit on a trap table) 

3. Percussion plus

3a) Percussion (solo performer) – glockenspiel, vibraphone, pr bongos, suspended cymbal, large tam-tam, kick drum, concert bass drum, triangle, woodblock, cowbell and auxiliary percussion or found objects that would fit on a trap table.

3b) Percussion (solo performer) with electronics. Percussion instruments as above.  Electronics: Roland SPD-SX, Laptop with RME UFX interface, Ableton Live, Protools, Logic, Max, or other electronics if the composer supplies the necessary software/components. Ideally, the set-up will be relatively simple. Quad speaker arrangement is possible.

4. Taonga Puoro plus

Taonga puoro soloist, with/without flute/piccolo soloist (information sheet available)

5. Piano Trio

Violin, cello, piano

6. String Quartet

6a) String quartet

6b) String quartet with fixed audio media

6c) String quartet with percussion (1 player: glockenspiel, vibraphone, pr. bongos, suspended cymbal, large tam-tam, kick drum, concert bass drum, triangle, woodblock, cowbell and auxiliary percussion or found objects that would fit on a trap table)

7. Small Ensembles

Works for all or some of the following instruments:

7a) harp, percussion and double bass

or

7b) Saxophone, trombone, piano and double bass

or

7c) Clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and percussion(1)

or

7d) Flute/piccolo, oboe and violin

8. Medium Chamber Ensemble

Works for 3–8 players, instruments drawn from the following list: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion(1), piano, violin, double bass

9. Youth Orchestra

5 – 7 minute works written for Youth Orchestra, players aged 14 – 24 years

3 fl (III=picc). 3 ob (III=corA).  3 cl (III=bcl). 3 bn (III=dbn) – 4 hn. 3tpt. 2 trbn. 1 btrbn. 1 tuba – 5 perc. 1 timp. pft. – full strings

10. Orchestra

3 fl (II=picc, III=picc,afl). 3ob (III=corA). 3cl (III=bcl). 3 bn (III=dbn). – 4hn. 3 tpt. 2trbn. 1 btrbn. 1 tuba – 3 perc. 1 timp. 1 hrp – full strings

11. Choir

A capella choir – SATB, SSATB, or SSA (no divisi) 

12. Electroacoustic

12a) Electroacoustic music for fixed media, with up to 8 channels

12b) Works involving live electronics, with up to 8 channels

Speakers are normally positioned as an 8.1 system in a semi-circular array. There is also the possibility of some upper reinforcement from a trio of hanging speakers.

Single screen video is also possible in conjunction with the above.

Works of up to 20 minutes in duration may be considered in this category. 

13. Composer-Performer

Open to composer-performers who work with an expanded approach to composition, artists engaged with the practice of researching and developing new compositional and performative tools which may work in an intersection of the physical, theatrical and visual. This may include performers exploring creation, composer-performer collectives, non-Western instruments, found/built instruments, electronics and extra-musical elements. Composer-Performers are required to bring all necessary materials for the performance, including their own computer with all software and additional hardware as well as all props and any other necessary materials.

Please submit an artist CV in English (up to 2 pages), .pdf description of the work (500 word max), a video of the composer-performer’s work, and a technical rider for the performance.

Works of up to 20 minutes in duration may be considered in this category.

14. Improvising Ensemble

Open to composers-improvisers who may wish to perform with local improvisers (violin, saxophones, percussion and/or keyboards). Composers are requested to send some demo material.

15.  Audiovisual and Installation Works

For gallery/exhibition presentation (i.e. non-concert presentation). Some installations may be positioned in an outdoor environment. Preference will be given to works that bear some relationship to the theme of Music Ecosystems.

Please submit an artist CV in English (up to 2 pages), .pdf description of the work (500 word max), a list of equipment and installation materials, and online support material (2 examples of work). Short-listed applicants will be contacted for additional materials.

Works longer than 12 minutes will be considered in this category.

iscm2020.nz

The Commonwealth International Composition Award

Forwarded document:
Full details are available in this PDF.

Around the world there are very few young people who are being taught how to write their own music as part of their education. However, New Zealand is one of the countries we believe may be leading the field in this respect.

Musical composition is as valuable a form of self-expression as drama, dance, visual art and creative writing, but surprisingly, is the one that is least frequently taught in schools.

The Commonwealth Resounds, The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and the Purcell School for Young Musicians in the UK are all very keen to try and change this. It is why we have created this new training award.

We are looking for:

  1. High-flying schools and musical organisations in New Zealand who are already teaching musical composition to their pupils successfully, and who would be willing to be promoted as models of excellence on our international website and enter their promising young composers for this special International Award.
  2. Enterprising schools who would like to teach their pupils how to compose music but need some teacher and pupil support to get started.
  3. New Zealand Composers who would like to join our programme as mentors or tutors.
  4. Enterprising partners in New Zealand who would like to sponsor or support young composers in their country and help them to achieve a high international profile via this exciting new training award.

The Commonwealth International Composition Award

For those who wish to know more, here is the link to the website: https://cicompositionaward.com/