Call for scores: DM.Connect compositions in the US

Winning composers will be paired with partnering student-choreographers and will have their pieces performed by Curtis Institute of Music musicians and dancers in May.

Prizes

• Winning composers (up to three will be chosen) will have their work recorded for their use.
• Winners will participate in consultation with award-winning US composer Nathan Bales, who will provide guidance and lessons in writing for dancers, composition, and engraving.
• Winners will be paired with a student-choreographer, who will choreograph a piece to be video recorded and performed with Pangea Live.

Eligibility

• Entrants must be high-school pupils or currently enrolled undergraduate composers.
• Preference will be given to emerging composers who have not had significant opportunities to have their music featured on commercial or other professional recordings.

Programme schedule

• Submission deadline – 5 February.
• Winners announcement – 12 February.
• Composition student consultations – 15 to 19 February.
• Deadline for potential edits – 27 February.
• Performance with Pangea Live – 22 May.

Requirements

• Instrumentation: Solo cello, two percussionists. Any variation of the ensemble will be accepted, including solo works.
• Core percussion instruments will include marimba and vibraphone (with additional instruments approved by the DM.Connect coordinator prior to composition).
• Duration: Pieces from three to seven minutes in length will be accepted.

Application guidelines

• Composers should provide links for their scores, as well as two accompanying pieces of varying instrumentation.
• MIDI recordings are acceptable via Dropbox, Google, or other cloud services via email to dmconnectmusic@gmail.com (composers can send queries to the same email address).

About DM.Connect

Founded by Nathan Bales and Colby Damon, DM.Connect is an educational programme for young, emerging composers and choreographers. After an application process, three students of each discipline will be picked and paired together to collaborate on a work. Composers will receive lessons, workshop their piece and have it recorded. Choreographers will also be guided through creating a new work to one of the composer’s pieces, as well as workshops on film editing and having their work presented by Pangea Live.

View the original call here.