IGNITE: The C4 Commissioning Competition 2017-18

IGNITE, C4’s third Commissioning Competition, gave three finalists the opportunity to compose new works for C4. Over two hundred composers submitted scores to the competition. Applicants were asked to submit two recent contrasting works: one for a cappella chorus, and a second contrasting work, preferably choral, but non-choral if necessary. A $10 administrative application fee was charged.

An anonymous first round of judging by members of C4 yielded nineteen semifinalists. A distinguished judging panel of composers James Bassi, Tarik O'Regan and Bruce Saylor then anonymously selected three finalists who were all commissioned to compose new works for C4. After the new compositions were complete, the same three judges chose the first, second and third place winners.

Prizes of $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $600 for third place were awarded. The three winning pieces were performed at C4's concerts on June 7th and 9th, 2018.

First place: Massimo Lauricella, Para além (recording on SoundCloud)
Second place: Nilo Alcala, Crossing the Bar (recording on SoundCloud)
Third place: Lucas Marshall Smith, Hide and Seek
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Thanks to everyone who participated. Other semifinalists included:

Darija Andovska
Alice Berni
Gianluca Castelli
Nathanael Gubler
Steven Juliani
Thomas LaVoy
Shuying Li
Aaron McDermid
Lansing McLoskey
D. Riley Nicholson
Kala Pierson
Jasper Randall
Josephine Stephenson
Trevor Weston
Matt Wetmore
Yotam Haber