Composition Contest

2024 Annual Composition Contest

Since 2000, the Alabama Orchestra Association has been active in the commissioning of new works of music for the All-State Orchestra Festival. Each year, the winning work receives a world-premiere performance at the All-State Orchestra Festival. In addition, the composers have spent the weekend in residence at the Festival. Previous composers have included Stella Sung, Alan Moss, David Durant, James Grant, David Ott, James Woodward, Sandra Dackow, James Lee, Lanette Lind, Philip Wharton, Robert J. Bradshaw, Ryan Fraley, Daniel Leo Simpson, Sean Pallatroni, Elizabeth Lim, David Rimelis, Michael Foumai, James Danly, Roger Zare, and Alejandro Basulto-Martínez, Jesus J. Martinez, Nabil Abad, Mark Lackey, Carlos Lalonde, and Todd Kovell.

In February of 2006, the membership of the Alabama Orchestra Association resolved to make the annual commissioning program into the Alabama Orchestra Association Composition Competition.

The winning composer receives a cash prize of $1,500 US dollars. Additionally, the winning composition will be performed at the 2024 Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, in February 2024. The winning composer will also be awarded a residency at the 2024 Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival, which will include airfare from any point in the continental United States, accommodations, transportation, and meals.

International applicants, as well as applicants from Alaska and Hawaii, are welcome to submit scores. In the event a winner from outside of the continental United States is selected, a portion of the airfare will be covered for the winner. Additionally, in the event of an international winner, the Alabama Orchestra Association will provide the letter of invitation required for the U.S. visa, but no further visa assistance will be provided, or reimbursed, by the AOA. Obtaining a U.S visa, if required, is the responsibility of the winning composer. If residency at the All-State Festival is not possible due to an inability to obtain a U.S. visa, another winner may be chosen.

Requirements

All materials must be RECEIVED by September 1, 2023. Notification of the results of the competition will be made by September 25, 2023.

• Submissions should be original, previously unpublished compositions for orchestra (instrumentation listed below).
• The submitted composition must not be published by a major concert or educational publishing house.
• The submitted composition should not have received a previous public performance. The performance at the Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival should be the world-premiere performance of the work.
• -The composition should be for full orchestra. Orchestration shall not exceed:
  • 3 Flutes (3rd doubles piccolo)
  • 2 Oboes
  • 2 Clarinets
  • 2 Bassoons
  • 5 Horns
  • 3 Trumpets
  • 2 Tenor Trombones
  • 1 Bass Trombone
  • 1 Tuba
  • 1 Timpani
  • 2 Percussion
  • First Violins
  • Second Violins
  • Violas
  • Cellos
  • String Basses
• Works that call for additional instruments will not be considered.
• The duration should be no less than five minutes and no greater than ten minutes.

Application Procedure

For the 2024 competition, all materials must be submitted online. You will need to store your score and audio file on a site such as Dropbox, or your personal site, and provide us with the links. The score should be in PDF format and the audio should be an MP3. There is no longer an entry fee for this competition.

The winner will be announced September 25, 2023!