Park Avenue Christian Church 200th Anniversary Composition Competition
Receipt Deadline: September 1, 2010
Prize: $2,000, Performance in New York City
Receipt Deadline: September 1, 2010
Prize: $2,000, Performance in New York City
To celebrate its 200th Anniversary, the Park Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) invites composers to submit unperformed, unpublished compositions for SATB choir and either organ or chamber ensemble up to 8 minutes in length. We especially encourage composers age 35 and younger to submit an entry. The winning composition will be performed at our 200th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, October 10, 2010 and may receive additional performances throughout the year.
About Us:
The Park Avenue Christian Church is one of the oldest Disciples of Christ congregations in the United States. Søren A. Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian and philosopher, has written that “life is lived forward, but understood backwards.” So even as the congregation looks back at a proud and glorious past, we press forward to a bright and inviting future of seeking justice, embracing diversity and inspiring imagination. To that end, we are seeking a musical composition based on a text (or texts) of the composer’s choosing that celebrates and af?rms our community’s deepest values:
The Park Avenue Christian Church is one of the oldest Disciples of Christ congregations in the United States. Søren A. Kierkegaard, the Danish theologian and philosopher, has written that “life is lived forward, but understood backwards.” So even as the congregation looks back at a proud and glorious past, we press forward to a bright and inviting future of seeking justice, embracing diversity and inspiring imagination. To that end, we are seeking a musical composition based on a text (or texts) of the composer’s choosing that celebrates and af?rms our community’s deepest values:
•We are a Christian community that seeks justice, upholding the rights and dignity of all people, particularly those who are poor or oppressed. As the prophet Jeremiah states, “Seek the shalom of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to God on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:7
•We are a Christian community that dares to embrace the “divinity of difference.” To that end we are open to and affirming of all people whatever their gender, race, age, culture, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religious tradition, economic circumstance, family configuration or difference in ability. We honor other holy histories, those who profess no faith or have chosen different paths to the sacred, and we seek to be a bridge in this increasingly interfaith and inter-religious city and world.
• We are a Christian community that inspires imagination through creative and excellent liturgy, musical offerings and artistic programming. We believe that the unique voice and perspective of artists, musicians, dancers, playwrights and poets helps us to hear and see our faith in new and dynamic ways.
•We are a Christian community that dares to embrace the “divinity of difference.” To that end we are open to and affirming of all people whatever their gender, race, age, culture, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religious tradition, economic circumstance, family configuration or difference in ability. We honor other holy histories, those who profess no faith or have chosen different paths to the sacred, and we seek to be a bridge in this increasingly interfaith and inter-religious city and world.
• We are a Christian community that inspires imagination through creative and excellent liturgy, musical offerings and artistic programming. We believe that the unique voice and perspective of artists, musicians, dancers, playwrights and poets helps us to hear and see our faith in new and dynamic ways.
Guidelines for the Work:
Works may be written either for SATB choir and organ (organ specifications can be found at http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/ParkAveChr.html) or for SATB choir and chamber ensemble incorporating ?ute (doubling piccolo and alto flute), violin, cello, percussion (small-medium set-ups preferred, no tubular chimes or timpani) and piano, with preference given to works using the entire instrumentation.
Works not adhering to these guidelines or falling outside of this instrumentation will be disquali?ed. Works that have been previously performed, recorded or published, professionally or otherwise, will also be disquali?ed.
Directions for Submitting Materials:
Scores and recordings will be reviewed anonymously, so please choose a pseudonym to label the score and recording. Put your real name only on the biography/works list page, along with your pseudonym. We strongly prefer receiving works via email as PDFs, MP3s (for sound ?les) or Microsoft Word ?les. Works may be sent via regular mail, but please do not use a delivery service requiring a signature.
Scores and recordings will be reviewed anonymously, so please choose a pseudonym to label the score and recording. Put your real name only on the biography/works list page, along with your pseudonym. We strongly prefer receiving works via email as PDFs, MP3s (for sound ?les) or Microsoft Word ?les. Works may be sent via regular mail, but please do not use a delivery service requiring a signature.
If emailing materials, please enclose all files (MP3s, PDFs and any documents) in a single folder titled exactly as follows (replacing the word ‘Pseudonym’ with your real pseudonym): PACC200-Pseudonym Email as a Zip ?le (see bottom of page for email address), which will place the suffix .zip at the end of the folder name. To create a Zip file on a PC in Windows XP, select the folder, then right- click and select “Send To” and “Compressed (zipped) Folder”; on a Macintosh in OSX, Control-click on the file and choose Create Archive. The email subject line should be titled exactly like the folder (i.e., PACC200-Pseudonym).
NOTE: please send as a Zip file attached to an email message. Do not send using a file delivery site such as yousendit, sendbigfile, etc. unless absolutely necessary.
Please Submit:
1. One score, labeled with pseudonyms, including the duration and year written, and a program note (500 words or less).
2. A high-quality MIDI realization of the submitted work or a recording of another representative work (preferably for SATB choir with or without instruments) labeled with your pseudonym and title of the work and movements, if applicable. All movements should be in separate files or on separate tracks. Recordings should be in MP3 format, enclosed in the Zip file, or sent as a CD recording via regular mail. Each MP3/track should be one piece or movement and only labeled with the title of the work and/or movement. MP3 is the only acceptable format when emailing sound files.
3. Biography and List of Works and Performances. Please include your name, pseudonym, address, phone number, and e-mail. If mailed via regular mail, please enclose in a sealed envelope labeled with your pseudonym.
1. One score, labeled with pseudonyms, including the duration and year written, and a program note (500 words or less).
2. A high-quality MIDI realization of the submitted work or a recording of another representative work (preferably for SATB choir with or without instruments) labeled with your pseudonym and title of the work and movements, if applicable. All movements should be in separate files or on separate tracks. Recordings should be in MP3 format, enclosed in the Zip file, or sent as a CD recording via regular mail. Each MP3/track should be one piece or movement and only labeled with the title of the work and/or movement. MP3 is the only acceptable format when emailing sound files.
3. Biography and List of Works and Performances. Please include your name, pseudonym, address, phone number, and e-mail. If mailed via regular mail, please enclose in a sealed envelope labeled with your pseudonym.
If you submit materials via regular mail and would like your works and recordings returned, please include an appropriate SASE. Works and recordings submitted without an SASE will either be kept in our files and considered for future performances or discarded. Applications not conforming to these guidelines will be disquali?ed.
Decision Deadline and Prize:
Scores and recordings will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of composers and choral conductors. Composers will be noti?ed no later than September 10, 2010. A $2,000 prize will be awarded to the winner, as well as a performance in New York City. The winning composer is invited to attend the dress rehearsal and performance.
Scores and recordings will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of composers and choral conductors. Composers will be noti?ed no later than September 10, 2010. A $2,000 prize will be awarded to the winner, as well as a performance in New York City. The winning composer is invited to attend the dress rehearsal and performance.
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