Apply to ACO EarShot

EarShot is a program of the American Composers Orchestra, in partnership with the League of American Orchestras, American Composers Forum, and New Music USA. Serving over 350 composers since inception, EarShot had its beginnings in NYC with its own Readings in 1988 (carrying the name Whitaker and then Underwood) and expanded in 2008 to national Readings offered in partnership with orchestras across the country. In 2016, ACO launched a composer archive of past EarShot compositions as a resource to the field. Orchestras across the country and around the world rely on EarShot to identify and connect with creative artists, as well as to advise on commissions, competitions, and program design.

The American Composers Orchestra, as well as ACO’s partner orchestras, offer selected participants the opportunity to collaborate with mentors consisting of both established orchestral composers and industry leaders through the EarShot Readings program. ACO and its partner orchestras aim to align these readings with their existing programmatic, community engagement, and DEI goals and initiatives; specific eligibility parameters (outside of the requirement of being a composer with fewer than 3 professional performances) are created by the host orchestras in collaboration with ACO.

There is no application fee for EarShot Readings. Additionally, travel (up to $700) and local accommodations are provided for the selected composers. Those selected also receive recordings of their works for personal and/or professional use.

Illinois Philharmonic

The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra is seeking composers with works for orchestra (1111/2110/timp+1/harp/strings[43321]) to be rehearsed, performed, and recorded in the Chicago metro area on April 15-16, 2024, offering selected participants the opportunity to collaborate with mentors consisting of both established orchestral composers and industry leaders. This call for scores is a part of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s ongoing work to connect programming with local stories and perspectives; composers with works that offer a thematic/programmatic connection to Chicago or the surrounding areas are especially encouraged to apply.

Click here to learn more about the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.

ROCO

ROCO is seeking artists/composers with works for chamber orchestra (2222/2210/timp+1/strings[66442]) to be rehearsed, performed, and recorded in Houston, TX on June 5-6, 2024, offering selected participants the opportunity to collaborate with mentors consisting of both established orchestral composers and industry leaders. Among those selected, one composer’s work will be featured on ROCO’s June 7th concert, as part of the 2024 League of American Orchestras Conference. This call for scores is a part of ROCO’s continued efforts to address and engage gender parity in the field of orchestral music; exciting and energetic concert opener works/overtures by women composers are eligible for this call.

Click here to learn more about ROCO.

Eligibility

TAKE OUR QUIZ TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR EARSHOT

- - This opportunity is for composers/artists who have had 2 or fewer pieces performed by a professional orchestra (30+ players). College and/or festival orchestra performances, as well as performances that have taken place in conjunction with any composer advancement initiative or program, do not count toward the number of pieces “performed by a professional orchestra.”
  - U.S. applicants must be either a U.S. citizen or non-citizen lawfully and permanently residing or studying full-time in the United States. DACA recipients are eligible to apply. Mexican, Canadian, Central American, and South American applicants must be a citizen or non-citizen lawfully and permanently residing or studying full-time in their respective countries.
  - There are no age restrictions; applicants should be composers/artists at the early stages of their professional orchestral careers.
- Composers selected to participate in any previous EarShot Reading, including ACO’s Whitaker and Underwood Readings held in NYC, are ineligible.

Application Instructions

Before submitting an application, carefully review the eligibility and submission guidelines for each call. A complete submission must include the following:

A completed online submission form.
A PDF of the full score clearly labeled with the composer’s name and title of the work on the cover page.

EarShot Readings: Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra

Applicants may submit one work for this opportunity. Applicants may not submit multiple scores.
Compositions must be less than 15 minutes in length. A portion or movement from a longer work will be considered.
Submitted works must not exceed the instrumentation parameters outlined by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra: 1111/2110/timp+1/harp/strings(43321).
Works must include at least 11 players from the listed instrumentation.
Compositions that include MIDI, digital technology, amplification, and/or sound reinforcement will not be considered.
Concertos and vocal works are not eligible.
Do not submit recordings.
Incomplete, illegible, or late applications will not be considered.

EarShot Readings: ROCO

Women composers are eligible for this call.
Applicants may submit one work for consideration. Applicants may not submit multiple scores.
Compositions must be approximately 7 minutes in length. A movement from a longer work will be considered.
Submitted works must not exceed the following instrumentation: 2222/2210/timp+1/strings(66442).
Compositions that include MIDI, digital technology, amplification, sound reinforcement, visuals, and/or projected multi-media will be considered.
Compositions that include voice are ineligible.
Do not submit recordings.
Incomplete, illegible, or late applications will not be considered.

Upcoming Deadlines

Application Receipt Deadline: Friday, June 30, 2023

Selected Composer/Artist Notification: Friday, August 11, 2023

If Selected

Composers/artists will be notified via email by August 11, 2023. Alternates will be invited to participate at a later date, as needed.
Composers must be available and ready to attend the required reading sessions, feedback meetings, and professional development workshops. Childcare and/or accommodations for physical disability and neurodiversity will be provided upon request.
Composers must provide professional, legible orchestral parts and scores prepared according to guidelines established by the Major Orchestral Librarians Association.
Composers must submit self-portraits/headshots and a short biography for media purposes.
Composers must agree to be videotaped/audio recorded for archival and promotional purposes, and to have their music recorded for archival and study purposes.

About Our Review & Selection Process

Scores are reviewed by a panel of composers representing various backgrounds, demographics, and musical styles. Panelists rate the scores numerically on criteria including originality, technical proficiency, and orchestration. Selected scores will advance to a second round of panelists comprised of ACO artistic staff, who will in turn select a group of finalists. From these finalists, participants for each opportunity will be selected by the artistic staff of the host orchestra.

Review panelists from the past four years include Shawn Okpebholo, Michi Wiancko, Kathryn Alexander, David Biedenbender, Lisa Bielawa, Chen Yi, Anthony Cheung, Rob Deemer, Man Fang, Gabriela Lena Frank, Jimmy López Bellido, Eric Nathan, Clint Needham, Gabriela Ortiz, Elizabeth Ogonek, Kate Soper, Ken Ueno, Dan Visconti, Wang Jie, Wang Lu, Xi Wang, Trevor Weston, and Lidiya Yankovskaya.

Questions & Information

For questions or comments on EarShot or the call for scores, please contact Garrett McQueen, Director of Artist Equity: garrett@americancomposers.org.