The Chesapeake Chorale’s High School Composition Competition
As part of the Chesapeake Chorale’s mission, we are offering the opportunity for high school students to submit an original composition for adjudication and written feedback by a professional panel.
Award: $800
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a public or private high school or a home school program
Please review the following requirements for the piece you submit:
When submitting your piece:
As part of the Chesapeake Chorale’s mission, we are offering the opportunity for high school students to submit an original composition for adjudication and written feedback by a professional panel.
Award: $800
- Honorable Mentions may also be awarded
- All contestants will receive written feedback from a professional adjudication panel
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in a public or private high school or a home school program
Please review the following requirements for the piece you submit:
- Voicing and Instrumentation: SATB (with minimal divisi) for chorus with piano or organ accompaniment or a capella – accompaniment preferred
- Performance Length: 2:30 to 5 minutes
- Language: All are considered; Non-English texts other than Latin, German, French, Italian, and Spanish) must be accompanied by a pronunciation guide (IPA preferred); All non-English texts should include literal and interpretive translations
- Theme: Sacred and Secular themes about December holidays and/or winter themes
- Text: Public domain or self-composed; any other texts must be accompanied with proof of rights secured
- Propriety: All music should be composed by a single applicant. In addition, our intention is that the lyrics will be written by a single high school applicant, or the lyrics will come from the public domain. If you choose to collaborate to create lyrics, the collaboration must be with another high school student, and documentation of the responsibilities of all individuals needs to be included in the application.
When submitting your piece:
- Use postal mail to submit the following to the Chesapeake Chorale (P.O. Box 1037, Bowie, MD, 20718):
- A single copy of the score with SATB vocal parts and accompaniment if applicable
- A piano reduction of vocal parts
- Application Fee: A check made payable to the Chesapeake Chorale for $10
- A single copy of the score with SATB vocal parts and accompaniment if applicable
- Email to the Chesapeake Chorale (info@chesapeakechorale.org):
- Completed Application**
- A PDF score with SATB vocal parts and accompaniment if applicable
- Optional materials that may help us understand your composition:
- A PDF piano reduction of vocal parts
- A MIDI file of the piece
- Optional: Audio recording of a vocal line with accompaniment
- A PDF piano reduction of vocal parts
- Completed Application**
- All submitted materials become the property of the Chorale and will not be returned.
- Submission date is August 1st, 2020. Notification of award status in September, 2020.
- The Chesapeake Chorale will retain all first-performance rights until further notice of the award-winning selection and any awarded honorable mention.
- The Chorale will release rights for submissions that were not selected.
Application Form
Please download the form below (in PDF or DOC format) and submit following the instructions above. Please remember to physically sign and date.
Please download the form below (in PDF or DOC format) and submit following the instructions above. Please remember to physically sign and date.
| chesapeake_chorale_high_school_composition_competition_information.pdf |
| chesapeake_chorale_high_school_composer_competition_application.docx |
