Open call: South African Composers’ Competition 2024-2025

The competition is aimed at young composers to develop skills and recognise talent in the local creative music industry. The competition for a five- to 15-minute work for symphony orchestra will provide sought-after performance opportunities to composers.

The prizes

• First prize: A cash prize of R20 000 (about $1 000), a one-year appointment as resident composer of the CPO which comprises a performance of the winning composition in a CPO concert, and one new commission to be performed at the following year’s final round.
• Second prize: R10 000 with at least one public performance of the composition.
• Third prize: R5 000 with at least one public performance of the composition.
• The works of all five finalists will be performed at the finalists’ concert on 15 March 2025.

Closing date

The closing date for the competition is 31 October. The competition is open to all South Africans not older than 35 years of age and those born no earlier than 31 October 1989. Entry is free.

Requirements

• Only one composition may be entered.
• The work must not be longer than 15 minutes in duration and not shorter than five minutes.
• Previous winners of first prize in the competition will not be eligible to enter.
• The composition should be an original work composed by the participant and should not have been published, performed or awarded recognition in any other competition prior to the closing date of this competition.
• It must be free of any liabilities, including those with publishing houses.
• Instrumentation for works can include strings, double woodwind, brass and limited percussion, keyboard, harp, celeste, limited traditional African instruments and electronic instruments.
• Orchestrations for more than 55 players unfortunately can’t be accommodated. Works for solo instruments or solo voice will not be accepted.
• Arrangements of existing works will be disqualified.
• Composers will retain ownership of the compositions.
• Composers agree that the CPO may use their composition for promotional purposes.
• Pre-recorded music or electronic music compositions will not be accepted.

How to submit

Interested composers should submit their entries here.

Submissions must include

• A clean and clear score in PDF format from music notation software with the duration and title clearly marked on the first page.
• No attribution on the score to ensure it remains anonymous to the judges.
• Explanations are only allowed for special requirements on performing techniques or forms and the only musical languages allowed are Italian, English, German and French.
• An audio demo in MP3 format (file name must include title of work only).
• One digital photo of the entrant not older than three months and at least 1MB in size.
• Scanned ID document.

The deadline for submission is 31 October 2024 at 5pm CAT.

Incomplete applications and compositions that do not meet above requirements will be disqualified. Enquiries may be made to Neil Robertson at neil@cpo.org.za.

Members of the jury and the organising committee are disqualified from participating in this competition. All materials submitted will be retained by the organisers and will not be returned.

View the original call, judging criteria, jury rules, procedure and selection here.