IGNITE, C4’s Commissioning Competition, will give three finalists the opportunity to compose new works for C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective. All three pieces will be premiered in
June 2021 in New York City. Prior to the performance, first, second, and third place winners
will be chosen, with awards of $1,500, $1,000, and $600 respectively.
June 2021 in New York City. Prior to the performance, first, second, and third place winners
will be chosen, with awards of $1,500, $1,000, and $600 respectively.
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS HAS PASSED.
Thank you to all who submitted!
Thank you to all who submitted!
ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE
C4 exists to enrich artists and audiences alike, through passionate advocacy of new choral works, performing pieces written within the last 25 years, premiering and commissioning new choral works, and mentoring emerging singers, composers, and conductors of today's choral music. C4 is a 24-voice ensemble collectively run by its members, and is one of the few choruses in America dedicated exclusively to performing contemporary music. C4 performs adventurous contemporary programming at a professional level, with stipends to its members making it a semi-professional ensemble. In addition to presenting the music of its own composer members, C4 programs the music of other emerging composers along with that of more established composers, filling an important niche in the cultural life of New York City.
COMPETITION GUIDELINES
Eligibility
Any composer may apply, regardless of age, career level or nationality. C4 welcomes stylistic diversity and encourages composers with fresh ideas in choral writing. Submitted works will be judged according to the following criteria:
C4 welcomes applications from composers of all backgrounds, and seeks to select winners that represent the diversity of our community and country. We strongly encourage composers of marginalized genders and historically underrepresented ethnicities to apply.
- Freshness/originality of ideas
- Proficiency in choral writing
- Sensitivity to/skill in setting text
- Clarity of notation
C4 welcomes applications from composers of all backgrounds, and seeks to select winners that represent the diversity of our community and country. We strongly encourage composers of marginalized genders and historically underrepresented ethnicities to apply.
Procedure
Composers should submit materials electronically, as explained below, by May 18, 2020. A panel of judges, consisting of C4 members, will select approximately twenty semi-finalists. A second panel of distinguished judges from outside of C4 (Tarik O'Regan, Kala Pierson, and Trevor Weston), will select three finalists. The finalists will be notified by August 10, 2020.
The finalists will then compose new works for C4, to be completed by January 19, 2021. The works should be a cappella and between four and seven minutes in length. If using text, composers must show proof that rights have been secured, or that they are in the public domain. Winning pieces must clearly state “Commissioned by C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective as part of the 2020-21 IGNITE Competition.”
Prior to the performance, the distinguished panel of judges will review the commissioned pieces and select first, second and third place winners. The finalists will be notified of which designation they receive before the premiere of their works. All three commissioned works will be premiered by C4 in early June 2021, in New York City.
Finalists are expected to remain in active communication with C4 throughout the composition process and are encouraged to attend rehearsals and/or listen to rehearsal recordings. They may also revise their compositions during the process as they see fit. C4 rehearses on Thursday evenings in Midtown Manhattan and will begin rehearsing the commissioned works in March 2021.
Both concerts will be recorded and the composers will receive copies. All finalists are strongly encouraged to attend one or both performances of the commissioned works. A travel stipend of up to $500 per composer will defray the cost of travel for the winning composers; all additional travel costs are the responsibility of the composer. Accommodations with C4 members will be provided as needed. The finalists should submit receipts for all of their travel expenses to C4’s treasurer by one week following the concerts.
C4 reserves the right to perform the commissioned works indefinitely.
The commissioned works may not be premiered by another ensemble in advance of C4's June 2021 performances.
The finalists will then compose new works for C4, to be completed by January 19, 2021. The works should be a cappella and between four and seven minutes in length. If using text, composers must show proof that rights have been secured, or that they are in the public domain. Winning pieces must clearly state “Commissioned by C4: The Choral Composer/Conductor Collective as part of the 2020-21 IGNITE Competition.”
Prior to the performance, the distinguished panel of judges will review the commissioned pieces and select first, second and third place winners. The finalists will be notified of which designation they receive before the premiere of their works. All three commissioned works will be premiered by C4 in early June 2021, in New York City.
Finalists are expected to remain in active communication with C4 throughout the composition process and are encouraged to attend rehearsals and/or listen to rehearsal recordings. They may also revise their compositions during the process as they see fit. C4 rehearses on Thursday evenings in Midtown Manhattan and will begin rehearsing the commissioned works in March 2021.
Both concerts will be recorded and the composers will receive copies. All finalists are strongly encouraged to attend one or both performances of the commissioned works. A travel stipend of up to $500 per composer will defray the cost of travel for the winning composers; all additional travel costs are the responsibility of the composer. Accommodations with C4 members will be provided as needed. The finalists should submit receipts for all of their travel expenses to C4’s treasurer by one week following the concerts.
C4 reserves the right to perform the commissioned works indefinitely.
The commissioned works may not be premiered by another ensemble in advance of C4's June 2021 performances.
HOW TO APPLY
The deadline for applications has passed.
APPLICATION MATERIALS:
Two (2) recent contrasting works.
Submitted scores may be published or unpublished, previously performed or yet to be premiered.
Both scores must be in PDF format, and must have the composer’s name and identifying marks removed; this also includes any identifying marks such as a publishing company owned by the individual, the name of the performing ensemble, or dedications.
Recordings of the submitted works should be in mp3 format. MIDI recordings will be accepted, provided that they have been converted to mp3 format. The composer’s name must not appear in the audio file names. Recordings are optional but strongly encouraged.
WAIVED ADMINISTRATIVE FEE
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting financial strain many musicians are now facing, C4 has chosen to waive the administrative fee for this application. We hope you are staying safe and healthy during this time.
We are happy to do what we can to help composers in this small way. COVID-19 has affected C4 as well, with multiple concerts this season cancelled due to social distancing. If you are able and wish to make a small donation to C4 to help defray some of this competition's administrative costs, we would be very grateful for your support.
Please note that donations will NOT be visible at any stage of the application reviewing process and will therefore not influence the judges' decisions.
Click below to make an optional tax-deductible donation to C4.
APPLICATION MATERIALS:
Two (2) recent contrasting works.
- One must be for a cappella chorus representing the composer’s current style or approach. This piece may be for any choral voicing and an unlimited number of parts.
- The second work should be a contrasting choral work, if possible. If the applicant does not have a second choral work to submit, a non-choral work will be accepted, with a preference for a vocal work of some type.
Submitted scores may be published or unpublished, previously performed or yet to be premiered.
Both scores must be in PDF format, and must have the composer’s name and identifying marks removed; this also includes any identifying marks such as a publishing company owned by the individual, the name of the performing ensemble, or dedications.
Recordings of the submitted works should be in mp3 format. MIDI recordings will be accepted, provided that they have been converted to mp3 format. The composer’s name must not appear in the audio file names. Recordings are optional but strongly encouraged.
WAIVED ADMINISTRATIVE FEE
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting financial strain many musicians are now facing, C4 has chosen to waive the administrative fee for this application. We hope you are staying safe and healthy during this time.
We are happy to do what we can to help composers in this small way. COVID-19 has affected C4 as well, with multiple concerts this season cancelled due to social distancing. If you are able and wish to make a small donation to C4 to help defray some of this competition's administrative costs, we would be very grateful for your support.
Please note that donations will NOT be visible at any stage of the application reviewing process and will therefore not influence the judges' decisions.
Click below to make an optional tax-deductible donation to C4.
QUESTIONS?
Please contact [email protected]!
