New Voices Competition --
For Composers Under Age 30

Since its inception in 2005, our New Voices competition for young composers has showcased winning compositions at our Spring concerts. All winners receive a professional-quality recording of the performance, and the first prize winner also receives a cash prize.

Theme for 2010 Competition

Celebration (anniversary)

Requirements of the Work

  1. One minute or less in length.
  2. For SATB a cappella chamber choir (may include some body percussion); divisi to 8 parts or fewer.
  3. The work should address the required theme; a new theme is announced each fall.
  4. Text may include spoken word, and may be in any language; a typed copy of the full original text (and facing line-by-line English translation) must be provided. If non-standard language(s) are used, a pronunciation guide must be included. If texts are copyrighted, written proof of permission of use must be provided.
  5. Up to three works per composer may be submitted. Please include 2 COPIES of each work. NO BINDINGS.
  6. The submitted work(s) must have not have had prior public performances or recordings.
  7. Tapes, CD recordings, or mp3 files will be accepted in addition to scores.
  8. Composer’s name and complete composer contact information should be included on each score.

The composer must be 30 years old or younger on Jan 1, 2010, and a resident of the United States. Please include your date of birth with your submission(s).

Composer Benefits

The composer(s) and work(s) selected for participation in this program will receive the following:

  1. The selected work(s) will be premiered by SFCA at three subscription series concerts in June, in Oakland, Palo Alto, and San Francisco, California.
  2. The first-prize winner will receive two long-distance or face-to-face one-hour consultations with SFCA’s Composer in Residence about the chosen work, in order to prepare it for rehearsal and premiere. All winners will have the opportunity to consult with Artistic Director, Magen Solomon, on vocal and performance issues.
  3. Four complimentary tickets for each performance of the work
  4. A professional-quality recording of one performance of the work
  5. Up to three winners will be selected. The first prize winner will receive $500.

Submissions

Submissions should be mailed to:
New Voices Project
San Francisco Choral Artists
PMB 344, 601 Van Ness Avenue #E
San Francisco, CA 94102

Postmark deadline: March 1, 2010.

Submitted materials will not be returned. Winners will be notified by May 1, 2010.

PREVIOUS NEW VOICES WINNERS:

2009:

1st. Place: Eleanor Aversa, Philadelphia, PA
2nd. Place: Nick Vasallo, Santa Cruz, CA
3rd. Place: Winton Yuichiro White, San Francisco, CA

2008:

1st. Place: Kala Pierson, New York, NY
2nd. Place: David Philip Norris, Minneapolis, MN
3rd. Place: Nathan Heidelberger, Oberlin, OH

2007:

1st. Place: Peter J. Durow, Tallahassee, FL
2nd. Place: Jamie Klenetsky, Wharton, NJ
Honorable Mention: Benjamin J. Williams, Akron, OH

2006:

1st. Place: Mathew Van Brink, New York, NY

2005:

1st. Place: Cheng Zhi Anna Huang, Los Angeles CA
2nd. Place: Eric Knechtges, Bowling Green, OH 
3nd. Place: Ted Hearne, New York, NY