home | submission guidelines | submission form
submission guidelines submission form If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you can get it here. earshot homepage aco homepage  submission guidelines submission form If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you can get it here. earshot homepage aco homepage submission guidelines submission form If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you can get it here. earshot homepage aco homepage submission guidelines submission form If you don't have Acrobat Reader, you can get it here. earshot homepage aco homepage	EarShot and Pioneer Valley Symphony  New Music Readings April 17-18, 2010 Please note: The application deadline has passed. The following information is provided for reference only. The Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra and EarShot, the National Orchestral Composition Discovery Network, announce the Pioneer Valley Symphony New Music Readings, to be held April 17 and 18, 2010, in Mount Hermon, MA at the Northfield Mount Hermon School. The Readings are designed to be an outstanding artistic and professional-development opportunity for emerging composers, and are also an excellent way for emerging composers to gain visibility in the field of orchestral music. The Readings will provide up to four emerging composers the opportunity to work closely with the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its music director Paul Phillips. The Readings are open to emerging composers nationwide. Composers will be selected for the readings on a competitive basis, and the experience will include feedback from principal Pioneer Valley Symphony musicians, Paul Phillips, and mentor composers Lewis Spratlan and Derek Bermel. Participating composers will each receive a recording of their work for study purposes. One of the oldest community orchestras in the United States, Pioneer Valley Symphony (PVS) was founded to “serve the Pioneer Valley through music in three ways: by performing symphonic and choral music; by providing members of the community the opportunity to participate in making music; and through musical education, particularly by introducing young children to live orchestral music.” The orchestra, under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Paul Phillips, provides professional musical direction to approximately 95 instrumentalists, producing six symphonic concerts, as well as family and educational programs. The geographically diverse membership of the orchestra comprises university music faculty, high school band teachers, and others — from 36 different communities in western Massachusetts, and six communities in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont —is testimony to the orchestra’s reputation and quality. The PVS has gained national recognition for its programming of contemporary music. In June 1997, the Orchestra won the ASCAP annual award for adventurous programming. In celebration of its 60th anniversary season, the PVS presented two world premieres. Each of the past eight seasons has featured performances of works by living composers. The Pioneer Valley Symphony New Music Readings are a part of EarShot: the nationwide network of new music readings and composer-development programs. The goals of the program are to create the nation’s first ongoing systematic program for identifying emerging orchestral composers; to provide working experience with orchestras from every region of the country; and to increase awareness of these composers and access to their music throughout the industry. EarShot is a partnership of American Composers Orchestra, American Composers Forum, American Music Center, the League of American Orchestras, and Meet The Composer.   Applications and submitted works for the Pioneer Valley Symphony  New Music Readings are due by Tuesday, February 16, 2010  Submission Guidelines To download the submission guidelines in PDF, click here. Applicant must be either a U.S. citizen or non-citizen lawfully and permanently residing or studying full-time in the United States.  There are no age restrictions; however, applicants should be composers at the early stages of their professional careers. Each composer may submit only one composition for consideration. Only works which will not have been performed or read by a professional orchestra, nor received a public performance prior to the reading date are eligible. Do not submit recordings. Only works completed after December 31, 2003, will be considered. Compositions should be up to 15 minutes in length. Shorter works or a portion or movement from longer works will also be considered. Instrumentation should not exceed: winds at 2.2.2.2; brass at 4.3.3.1; timpani, 2 percussion, harp, keyboard, and strings (12.10.8.8.4). Standard orchestral doublings are permitted. Works with instrumentations that exceed the above limitation will be considered only with advance approval. Works requiring soloists will not be considered. If selected, composers must provide professional, legible orchestral parts and scores prepared according to guidelines established by the Major Orchestral Librarians Association. Materials must be delivered to ACO offices no later than 5 PM, February 17, 2010. The MOLA guidelines can be found here. The quality of the score submitted is the primary evaluation criteria. It is therefore in the applicant's best interest that the score be clear, accurate, and the best representation of the composer's work. The additional background and educational information is for eligibility and documentation purposes. Incomplete, illegible, or late applications will not be considered. For more information call 212.977.8495 x202. Application Procedure To download the submission form in PDF, click here. Applications must be received no later than 5PM, February 16, 2010. Please complete the submission form and include it with the following: One bound copy of the score, clearly labeled with the composer's name and title of the work on the cover page. One complete submission form A current résumé for the composer including educational background, major teachers, awards, professional affiliations. A list of works, including title, year composed, instrumentation, duration, and performance history.   One letter of recommendation from an established composer or other music professional, attesting to the applicant's accomplishments and potential as an orchestral composer. The recommendation may be sent under separate cover. The recommendation letter is not required if the applicant has already submitted a reccommendation letter as part of a previous EarShot application. A self-addressed stamped envelope suitable for the return of materials. All supporting materials remain the property of EarShot. EarShot is not responsible for lost scores. Please send all materials to: Pioneer Valley Symphony New Music Readings EarShot c/o: American Composers Orchestra 240 West 35th Street, Suite 405 New York, NY 10001-2506