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18th
Annual Underwood
New Music Readings
&
Commission
PLEASE
NOTE: The application deadline for the 2009 Underwood New Music Readings has passed. The following information
is provided for reference only. Eligibility guidelines and submission instructions for the 2010
Readings will be posted when it is available.
American
Composers Orchestra announces its 18th annual Underwood New Music
Reading Sessions to be held in New York City at Miller Theatre at Columbia University on May 7 & 8, 2009. Up to ten composers in
the early stages of their careers will be selected to participate.
One will be awarded a $15,000 commission to write a new work to be
performed by ACO.
 Writing
for the symphony orchestra remains one of the supreme challenges for
the aspiring composer. The subtleties of instrumental balance,
timbre, effective part preparation, and communication with conductor
and musicians are critical skills. But openings for composers to gain
hands-on experience working with a professional orchestra are few.
ACO's New Music Reading Sessions are designed to give emerging
composers the opportunity to work with an orchestra singular in its
commitment to the development of the American composer and to hear
their work performed by some of the country's most outstanding
contemporary music instrumentalists.
Led by ACO
Artistic Director Robert
Beaser, the Readings
are the core of ACO's ongoing professional training programs for
emerging American composers.
At the Readings,
composers will meet with ACO artistic staff, orchestra members—including conductors George Manahan and Delta David Gier—and
composer advisors—Robert Beaser, Derek Bermel, Margaret Brouwer, and John Corigliano—and receive critical commentary and feedback.
Members of ACO's composer advisory panel and guest composers
participate in preliminary reviews of scores, post-Reading
evaluations and selection of the composer to receive the commission
award. The Reading are professionally recorded, and each composer a
high-quality audio recording to be used for study purposes.
Through a
partnership with the American Music Center, on May 6, composers will have the
opportunity to participate in a series of professional development
workshops covering such topics as promotion, score preparation and
other career essentials.
ACO's related
programs include an annual composer fellowship that allows a composer
to work with ACO's artistic and administrative staffs over the course
of a season; and Orchestra
Tech, a multiyear
project to explore the present and future applications of electronics and
digital technologies in orchestral music; and Playing it UNsafe, a laboratory for the
research and development of new experimental orchestral works.
Lead support for the Underwood New Music Readings comes from
Mr. Paul Underwood, The Helen F. Whitaker Fund, Fromm Music
Foundation and Aaron Copland Fund for Music, along with public funds
from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs.
"One
of the best orchestration lessons
I
have ever had."
Jason Freeman,
past participant
"The
Readings serve up invaluable insight
into
the art of orchestral writing."
Carter Pann,
past participant
"The Readings give young
composers a unique opportunity
to explore the modern
orchestra hands-on."
Roger Zare,
past participant
Eligibility
& Guidelines
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Applicant must be
either a U.S. citizen or non-citizen lawfully and permanently
residing, or studying full-time, in the United States.
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There are no age
restrictions; however, applicants should be composers at the early
stages of their professional careers.
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Each composer may
submit only one composition for consideration. Works that have been
previously submitted to ACO for consideration may not be resubmitted.
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Composers selected
to participate in prior ACO New Music Reading Sessions are ineligible.
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Only works that
will not have been performed or read by a professional orchestra nor
received a public performance in the New York metropolitan area prior
to the reading date are eligible.
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Do not submit recordings.
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Only works
completed after January 1, 2004, will be considered.
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Compositions must
be less than 15 minutes in length. A portion or movement from a
longer work may also be considered.
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Instrumentation
should not exceed ACO's standard symphonic complement: winds at
3,3,3,3; brass at 4,3,3,1; harp, keyboard, timpani, 4 percussion, and
strings (10, 8, 6, 6, 4). Works with instrumentation which exceed the
above will be considered only with advance approval.
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Works employing
electronics, MIDI, digital technology, and/or sound reinforcement in
combination with the above instrumental forces will be considered.
(See special requirements below.)
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Works requiring
soloists will not be considered.
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If selected,
composers must provide professional, legible orchestral parts and
scores prepared according to guidelines established by the Major
Orchestral Librarians Association. Materials must be delivered to ACO
offices no later than 5 PM, March 16, 2009.
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The quality of the
score submitted is the primary evaluation criteria. It is therefore
in the applicant's best interest that the score be clear, accurate,
and the best representation of the composer's work. The additional
background and educational information is for eligibility and
documentation purposes, these materials are not considered in the
general review of scores.
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Incomplete,
illegible, or late applications will not be considered.
How
to Apply
The deadline for the 2009 Underwood New Music Readings has passed, and the information below is for reference only. The 2010 guidelines and deadline will be posted when available.
A
complete submission must include the following:
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A completed submission
form (html) (pdf)
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One bound copy of
the score, clearly labeled with the composer's name and title of the
work on the cover page.
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A current
résumé for the composer including educational
background, major teachers, awards, professional affiliations.
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A list of works,
including title, year composed, instrumentation, duration, and
performance history.
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One letter of
recommendation from an established composer or other music
professional, attesting to the applicant's accomplishments and
potential as an orchestral composer. The recommendation may be sent
under separate cover.
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A self-addressed
stamped envelope suitable for the return of materials. All supporting
materials remain the property of American Composers Orchestra. ACO is
not responsible for lost scores.
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For works with
electronics MIDI and/or digital technologies: include a one-page
statement describing the rationale for its use, as well as any
pertinent production requirements and technical specifications.
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Send to: UNMR Submissions
American
Composers Orchestra
240 West 35th Street, Suite 405
New York, NY 10001-2506
Past
Participants
Since its
inception seventeen years ago, the New Music Readings have helped to
identify a new generation of composers, in many cases offering these
emerging artists their first hearing of a new work. In
2008, composer Roger Zare was awarded the Underwood Commission.
Past participants include:
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Mark
Applebaum
Anthony Barrese
Jeremy Beck
Derek Bermel*
Lisa Bielawa*
Andrew Bleckner
Philippe Bodin
Daniel Bradshaw
Clifton Callendar
Anthony Cheung
Anna Clyne
Dan Coleman*
Cindy Cox
Juan Cuellar
Nathan Currier
Sebastian Currier*
Roshanne Etezady
Fang Man*
Michael Fiday
Keith Fitch
Jennifer Fitzgerald
Jason Freeman*
Kenneth Froelich
Matthew Fuerst
Ruby Fulton
Lee Gannon
Stacy Garrop
Robert Gates
Michael Gatonska*
Ralf Gawlick
Chambliss Giobbi
Robert Gross
Matthew Halper
Amanda Harberg
Rafael Hernandez
Jennifer Higdon*
Chia-yu Hsu
Lance Hulme
Deniz Ince
Takuma Itoh
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Pierre Jalbert*
Chris Kaufman
Daniel Kellogg
Martin Kennedy
John Kline
Amy Kirsten
Kristin Kuster*
Sally Lamb
Spencer Lambright
Andrew McKenna Lee
Paul Yeon Lee*
Arthur Levering
Leonard Lewis
Xinyan Li
Matthew Lima
Robert Manthey
James Matheson
Scott McAllister
Lansing D. McLoskey
Jeff Myers
Clint Needham*
Jeffrey Nevin
Jonathan Newman
Thomas Osborne
Norbert Palej
Carter Pann
Milica Paranosic
Robert Paterson
Joshua Penman
Joseph Pereira
P.Q. Phan*
Paola Prestini
Leanna Primiani
Robert Przytulski
David Rakowski
Andrea Reinkemeyer
Paul Richards
Carlos Rivera
Brian Robison*
John Fitz Rogers
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Rodney Rogers
Manly Romero*
Daniel Bernard Roumain*
Paul Rudy
C. Bryan Rulon
Huang Ruo
Eric Samuelson
Carlos Sanchez-Guiterrez
Felicia Sandler
Sophia Serghi
Joseph Sheehan
Hsueh-Yung Shen*
Arlene Sierra
Reynold Simpson
Brian Smith
Peter Spande
Gregory Spears*
Ryan Streber
David Stovall
Stephen Taylor*
Zhou Tian
Matthew Tommasini
Christopher Trapani
Thomas Tumulty
Ken Ueno
Daniel Visconti
Melinda Wagner*
Dalit Warshaw
Anna Weesner*
Jude Weirmeir
Stefan Weisman
Conrad Winslow
Gregg Wramage
Randall Woolf*
Daniel Worley
Roger Zare*
Qinru Zhou |
* Programmed/commissioned
by ACO
Presented in
collaboration with the American Music Center.
Lead support for the Underwood New Music Readings comes from
Mr. Paul Underwood, The Helen F. Whitaker Fund, Fromm Music
Foundation and Aaron Copland Fund for Music, along with public funds
from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York City
Department of Cultural Affairs. |
