POLYPHONOS is The Esoterics’ annual competition for choral composition. The name of the competition comes from the Greek πολυφωνος, meaning “many voices” or “manifold in expression.” Now in its tenth season of hosting this competition, The Esoterics is excited to announce its international call for a cappella choral scores for POLYPHONOS.

The Esoterics is dedicated to performing and perpetuating contemporary a cappella choral settings of poetry, philosophy, and spiritual writings from around the world. The purpose of The Esoterics’ POLYPHONOS is to encourage today’s choral composers to broaden the scope of the a cappella choral repertory by setting sacred and poetical texts found beyond the Western classical canon in order to create a repertoire of choral concert music that reflects the universal beauty and power of unaccompanied voices joined in song.

2016 Competition:

Each winning composer will receive a commission from The Esoterics to plan and compose a new choral work that will be premiered by the ensemble in 2016. In addition to this commission, each of the winning composers will receive $1000 US plus airfare and accommodations to attend the Seattle premiere of their commissioned work. There will be up to three POLYPHONOS awards:

• International composer’s 2016 commission (for choral composers who are not US citizens)
• National composer’s 2016 commission (for choral composers who are US citizens)
• Young composer’s 2016 commission (for choral composers under age 30 as of 31 December 2016)

THERE IS NO ENTRY FEE FOR THIS COMPETITION

NEW DATES for 2016!
The 2016 POLYPHONOS submission deadline is 25 September.
All applications must be complete and received by that date.
The winners of the competition will be announced on or around 1 October.

For more information, visit http://www.theesoterics.org/polyphonos