Opus 2013

Calling all Composers

 

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Opus 2013 is an exciting new project offering unpublished composers the chance to receive a professional commission as part of Britten Sinfonia’s award-winning At Lunch series.

Britten Sinfonia At Lunch commissions four composers each year to write a piece for chamber ensemble. Previous recipients of commissions range from young composers like Luke Bedford and Charlie Piper to established names such as Judith Weir and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. 

For the first time, we are issuing an open call for submissions, with the aim of commissioning an as-yet unpublished composer to write for the ensemble in April 2013. The instrumentation will be oboe, harp and string quartet, and the piece will sit within the following programme:
Britten Six Metamorphoses after Ovid
Britten Tema Sacher   
Bridge Two Old English Songs  
Opus 2013 New Work For oboe, harp and string quartet                
Britten Suite for Harp    
Bridge Sir Roger de Coverley

The chosen composer will receive:
- Mentoring from Huw Watkins (Professor of Composition at the Royal College of Music, and a regular performer with and composer for Britten Sinfonia)
- At least three performances of their work (at London’s Wigmore Hall, West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge and Norwich Assembly House)
- A broadcast on BBC Radio 3
- A commission fee

Following the open call for submissions - deadline 31 August 2012 – what happens next?
Ten composers will then be shortlisted and invited to start writing their piece for oboe, harp and string quartet. These pieces will be workshopped by Britten Sinfonia, along with mentor Huw Watkins, on 24 November 2012. You will need to keep this date free if you wish to be considered. Following this workshop, one composer will be selected to complete their piece. If needed Huw Watkins will be on hand to mentor and guide you.  The piece will need to be completed by the end of February 2013.

Notes:
• Applicants must be resident in the UK from the point of application until at least April 2013.
• There is no upper or lower age limit.
• Applicants must be unpublished.
• Score should be submitted without the applicants name printed on it. The accompanying application form should detail the title of the composition.
• Applications will be accepted via email or post.
• Applicants must be available on Saturday 24 November to attend the workshop session if invited
• If chosen, the deadline for the completed piece will be Monday 4 March 2013

What to Submit:  To be considered for Opus 2013, you will need to send us:

1. Two scores representative of your work

• For any chamber ensemble (3-10 players)
• In any musical style
• Ideally notated using Sibelius or a similar score-writing package, although handwritten scores will also be accepted
• Your name should NOT appear on these scores*

2. If possible, a recording of at least one of these scores

• Unrecorded works will also be accepted
• Recordings from Sibelius are acceptable
• Your name should not appear on the recording*

3. A completed application form

*When we receive your application, we will assign it a number. Only the scores and recordings (if applicable) will be passed on to our judging panel; they will have no information about you personally, and you will therefore be judged on the quality of your music alone.

Deadline for submissions: 31 August 2012

Send your applications to:

Email
Scores must be submitted as a PDF file.
Sound files must be submitted as MP3 files
Please send email applications to: Isobel.timms@brittensinfonia.com with subject title Opus 2013
 

Post
Please note that scores and CDs cannot be returned.
Please send postal applications to:
Opus 2013
Britten Sinfonia
13 Sturton Street
Cambridge
CB1 2SN

For more information contact:
Isobel Timms, Creative Learning Director, on isobel.timms@brittensinfonia.com

 

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