2023 Composition Competition for Young Composers

Overview

To celebrate 50 years of the International Double Reed Society, the society created a commissioning project to add 50 new works for double reeds following the 50th Anniversary year.

Since IDRS was incorporated in 1971, commissioning has been a significant aspect of the Society’s mission. The goals of the 50 for 50 Commissioning Project are to celebrate IDRS at 50, to acknowledge that the society has an important and ongoing responsibility to broaden and deepen the diversity of voices in, and repertoire for, the double reed playing community and to promote a spirit of togetherness, artistic enrichment, and celebration for the project, the conference, and IDRS.

Application and Selection process

Applicants will use a submission form on IDRS.org . The online form will be open on September 15, 2023 and will close on December 5, 2023. The competition will be adjudicated in a two-round process, with the winners being selected by a diverse panel of composers and music professionals using a blind evaluation process.

The winning works will be premiered at the 2024 IDRS Conference in Flagstaff, USA, July 21-25, 2024. The IDRS Conference Artistic Committee will select the performers of these premieres.

Eligibility

Applicants must be under the age of 26 (on December 5, 2023) or currently enrolled in a collegiate/conservatory music program during the 2023/24 school year are eligible to apply.

Not eligible: Composers who are previous winners of the IDRS Commissioning Competition or an IDRS Commissioning Grant and composers on the IDRS Board of Directors, IDRS Staff, IDRS volunteers or members of the conference hosting team.

Requirements for Composition:

Applicants will submit a completed composition that has not received a premiere.

Instrumentation: Open double reed chamber instrumentation, using any combination of the following instruments: Oboe, English Horn (maximum 1), Bassoon, Contrabassoon (maximum 1).

Number of players: 2-6

Length: 6-8 minutes (multiple movements allowed)

Level of playing: Intermediate – advanced

The following materials will be required:

• One complete composition for double reed chamber instrumentation, using any combination of the following instruments: Oboe, English Horn (max 1), Bassoon, Contrabassoon (max 1). Number of players: 2-6. Length: 6-8 minutes (multiple movements allowed). Level of playing: Intermediate – advanced
  Note: Please remove any names or other identifying marks on your score or recordings. Scores or recordings with names or other identifying marks will not be considered.
  • a) A PDF file of the score.
  • b) A live, mockup, or MIDI recording of the composition.
• Current resume listing professional qualifications and contact information (name, email address, phone number, physical mailing address, and website URL if applicable). Please include current university or conservatory and/or birthdate to confirm eligibility.
• Brief program note (150 words max).
• For administrative use if selected as a prize winner: Short bio (300 words max), and professional photo

Fees

There is no entry fee for this competition.

Timeline

Submissions for competition: September 15 – December 5, 2023
Announcement of prizewinners: December 20, 2023
Premieres: July 21-25, 2024

Prize

Up to five (5) prizes will be awarded.
Each work will be premiered at the 2024 IDRS Conference in Flagstaff, USA, July 21-25, 2024 and each winning composer will receive a $1,000 USD fee. All 50 for 50 Commissioning Project works are recorded by IDRS and included in the website archive.