Inversion Ensemble 2nd Annual Emerging Composer Contest

Inversion Ensemble 2nd Annual Emerging Composer Contest

Who is Inversion Ensemble?
Austin’s Inversion Ensemble is a choral collective made up of composers and singers formed to give voice to innovative choral works and to encourage the creation of new music, especially in the Austin area. A great deal of our repertoire is written especially for Inversion Ensemble by composers who sing within the ranks of the ensemble.
While many members of Inversion Ensemble perform, conduct, compose, study, and teach music full-time, the group also includes non-professional participants who are equally passionate about choral music and ensuring it thrives as a modern art form.

Purpose of Emerging Composer Contest:
Inversion Ensemble is looking for a young composer to be highlighted as part of our 2019-2020 Season on our concert entitled Aether: Air . This concert will focus on pieces that are inspired by the alchemical element of air both literally and metaphorically – pieces can range on topics from the sky, wind, flight, spirit, innovation and beyond. Pieces submitted should follow a similar theme in order to be considered for performance. Inversion Ensemble is a modern, innovative ensemble so uses of extended technique, non-traditional forms, graphic scores etc. are welcomed.

Qualifications:
To qualify you must be 35 years or younger as of September 28, 2019 and currently reside in the United States including Alaska, Hawaii or U.S. Territories.

Composition Requirements:
1. 3-7 minutes in duration
2. Any combination of SATB voicing up to SSAATTBB
3. May be a cappella or with piano accompaniment
4. A cappella submissions MUST include piano reduction.
5. Text must be public domain or be accompanied by a letter of permission from copyright owner.
6. Please only submit 1 entry.
7. No fee is required for submission.
Please submit a PDF copy of your composition without you name anywhere on the body of composition. The PDF copy must be clear, clean and legible. No handwritten scores will be considered. Graphic scores may be a PDF scan of a written score if applicable. You will also need a cover letter that includes the following information:
1. Composer’s name
2. Physical Address
3. Phone Number
4. Email Address
5. Date of Birth
6. Current Occupation (including if you are currently an enrolled student)
7. Head shot and short bio

Judging criteria includes, but is not limited to:
1. Compositional structure
2. Voice Leading
3. Harmonic language
4. Adherence to concert theme
5. Text selection and setting
6. Piano accompaniment (if applicable)
7. General understanding of choral idiom

All entries must be submitted by July 31, 2019 to be considered. The winner will be notified no later than September 1, 2019. He or she will have the opportunity to have a phone meeting with Artistic Director, Trevor Shaw and members of the ensemble including other composers. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, certificate of achievement, inclusion of piece on September 2019 concerts, and a recording of composition concert performances. Please send submissions to Inversion Ensemble Managing Director, Robbie LaBanca at