Open call: 2026 MusicON International Composition Competition

Organised by the MusicON Chamber Orchestra and hosted by the Mayflower Art Center, the competition forms part of the MusicOn+ InterArts Festival. Selected finalist works will be premiered in New York in October.

The competition is open to composers of any nationality who were born after 1 April 1996. Entries must meet the following requirements:

• Instrumentation: Works must be written for two to six performers using designated instruments, including strings, winds, piano, harp, guitar and percussion.
• Electronic music: Electronic or pre-recorded music is not permitted.
• Duration: Compositions must run for between five and eight minutes, with the duration clearly stated on the score cover.
• Originality: Works must have been composed after 2023 and must not have been previously published, performed or awarded.
• Submissions: Each participant may submit one work, with scores submitted anonymously for judging.
• Entry fee: US$25.
• Required materials: A PDF score, photograph and a copy of an identity document or passport.

The submission deadline is 31 July 2026 at 12pm Eastern Time. Entries that do not meet the competition requirements may be disqualified.

The jury includes Wang Lu, associate professor of music at Brown University, and Felipe Lara, associate professor in the Composition Department at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.

Between four and six finalists will be selected through an anonymous evaluation process. The prizes include:

• $2 000 – Winner Prize for composers aged 18 and above
• $500 – Honourable Mention for composers aged 18 and above
• $1 000 – Winner Prize for composers under 18

Winners will also receive video documentation and certificates.

The finalist works will be performed by the MusicON Chamber Orchestra at The Blanc Space in New York on 3 and 4 October 2026. Competition results are expected to be announced before 10 August 2026 through the organiser's website.

Composers retain copyright to their works, while the organisers will have non-commercial usage and premiere rights. The jury's decision is final.

The MusicOn+ InterArts Festival brings together visual art and music, creating an interdisciplinary platform for interaction between sound, imagery and ideas.

Interested composers can submit their entries through the official competition registration process or contact [email protected] for further information.

View the original call here.

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