The Lake George Music Festival is a strong supporter of contemporary classical music, and annually hosts an international competition to promote its continued development and dissemination. Our mission is to find and recruit the next generation of leading composers and promote their work to the world at large. We will pair the most promising works with our roster of exceptional performers, fostering long-lasting relationships between artists of the highest caliber. By promoting the movement that contemporary music is alive, inspirational, and relevant to every community, we are doing our part to connect Lake George with the evolution of this tradition.
Eligibility: Composers must be between the ages of 18 and 35 at the time of submission. Previous winners (finalists ok) and current students of the jury may not enter. Composers of any nationality are eligible.
Entry Fee: $10
Deadline: 31 January 2018
Awards: Two winners will be selected to receive a $500 prize and a live performance of their work at the Lake George Music Festival’s upcoming season.
The winning composers will also be invited to Lake George as “composers in residence” to work with the musicians performing their piece. Lodging and some meals will be provided free of charge. Attendance at the festival is encouraged but not required.
Several finalists will also be announced; these works will be kept in the LGMF music library for future programming considerations.
Guidelines:
-an original work of chamber music composed after January 1st, 2012.
-a complete work – no single movements of multi-movement works will be accepted.
-work must be in its original form – no arrangements; example: no piece originally intended for string orchestra submitted as a string quintet will be accepted.
-between 7 and 12 minutes in duration.
-scored for 3 to 8 players (not including a conductor, if applicable).
-written for the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, piccolo, oboe, english horn, b-flat clarinet, A clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, piano, percussion, harp.
-pieces scored for percussion must follow these additional guidelines.
-any combination of the above instruments is acceptable, however only two of the same instrument may be included; example: maximum of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 percussionists, piano four hands, etc; with exceptions being a maximum of one tuba, one bass trombone, and one harp. Works scored for up to 4 violins, violas, and cellos are acceptable. Works for two or more pianos are not acceptable.
-instrument doublings must adhere to the instrumentation restrictions, example: no alto flute, no contrabassoon.
-works may be written for amplified instruments, prepared piano, and off stage instruments.
-works may include non-interactive electroacoustic elements (e.g., CD playback).
Website: http://www.lakegeorgemusicfestival.com/composition-competition/