Free Range

The 2023 Alvarez Chamber Orchestra
Composition Competition in association with Universal Edition

 

 



Details and regulations

Compose a new work,
or submit a previously created work
from a solo to an orchestral piece.

First Prize - £1000 and publication by
Universal Edition worth €600
Second Prize: The Mullord Award - £500
Third Prize - £250
All participants will get a voucher for a
free submission to scodo worth €49.

Closing date: midnight (GMT)
Sunday 8th October 2023

The results will be published in early December.

For the twelfth occasion, the Álvarez Chamber Orchestra
(ÁCO) is inviting composers of any age and nationality
to submit works for a composition competiton

  • There is no specification as to the length or nature of the work.

  • If electronics are used, if not notated conventionally and fully in the score, a CD or mp3 should be supplied.
  • A recording of the work should also be submitted if the score is notated graphically or in any other unconventional format. 
  • There is no restriction on the number of works submitted by each composer but each piece will incur the same entry fee of £26 and a single scodo voucher will be issued to each participant irrespective of the quantity of pieces entered.
  • The work may be a new piece or may have been written at any time in the composer’s career.
  • All scores must be submitted electronically as pdf files to the address of the competition administrator, Trevor Huntley: aco.competition@hotmail.com
  • Entries should only be submitted electronically. Two seperate emails should be sent and each should have the same subject title so that they can easily be associated with each other. The titles should read 'ACO - Free Range + the title of the work being submitted'. The first email should contain the work being submitted and this should only have the name of the piece on the first page but have no mention of the composer or any personal details which might reveal the identity of the composer. The second email should include details about the composer's identity, their name, address, email address, phone number, short biography, photograph, programme notes and confirmation of how the entry fee has been paid. NO hard copies of scores will be accepted.
  • Composers submitting their scores via a link on a file sharing site such as Dropbox should ensure the files remain uploaded until receipt of the written adjudication following the conclusion of the competition. All entries that the ACO receives will be acknowledged prior to adjudication. Composers will be notified if any files of an electronic submission are corrupt or missing. It is the responsibility of the composer to provide the ACO with pdf files that can be opened. If the composer is unable to supply the requested downloadable and readable files within the time limits detailed above, the entry will be deemed disqualified.
  • Entrants should ensure that their submissions fully meet the requirements and rules of the competition: no refund of the entry fee can be made.
  • The competition administrator, Trevor Huntley,
    can answer any enquires about the event at aco.competition@hotmail.com

The maximum* size of the orchestra is as follows:

3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo)
3 oboes (3rd doubling cor anglais)
3 clarinets (3nd doubling bass clarinet)
3 bassoons (3rd doublng contrabassoon)

4 horns
2 trumpets
3 trombones
tuba

timpani (doubling third percussionist)
percussion (two players)
harp
guitar
any keyboard

strings up to 6.5.4.4.2

Minimum specification is a single performer  


In addition to the prizes, there is the possibility of
a performance by the Álvarez Chamber Orchestra
at a future season.

The entry fee is £26 per work
and may be paid by PayPal:

 

 

If entering the details via PayPal independently of this link, please use this email address, not the one given earlier for the submission of scores:

alvarezchamberorchestra@yahoo.com

If you prefer, we accept payment by bank transfer to the ACO bank account:

The Alvarez Chamber Orchestra
 Account No. 65268120  Sort Code 089299

We no longer accept payment by cheque

The adjudicators will include some of the following:

David Collins: D. Phil. University of York - Composer
John Galea: D.Mus.(Melit.), D.Mus.(Pavia), Head of the Music Department,
University of Malta - Composer, conductor, lecturer. 
Linda Hirst D.Litt Huddersfield: Professor of Vocal Studies,
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Cord Meijering: former Director of Akademie für Tonkunst,
Darmstadt - Composer. 
Silvina Milstein: Professor of Composition and Analysis, 
University of Cambridge and King's College, London - Composer
Edwin Roxburgh: Composer and conductor:
awarded the Cobbett Medal for Services to Music.
Formerly Professor at the Royal College of Music
and Birmingham Conservatoire
Swayne: Composer in Residence, Clare College, Cambridge 
Robert Walker: Composer, Formerly BBC Broadcaster,
Professor Silpakorn University, Bangkok
Geoffrey Álvarez: D.Phil, University of York -
Composer, conductor, The Álvarez Chamber Orchestra

 

The competition will be administered by ÁCO treasurer
Trevor Huntley who may be contacted for any further
questions both prior to and subsequent to the competition.

  • The decision of the jury will be final and binding.
  • All competitors whose entries comply with the competition regulations will receive a brief comment about their work based on the jury's assessment.
  • The jury reserve the right not to award a prize if the submissions are not of sufficient quality.

Dr Geoffrey Álvarez
Artistic Director/Conductor
The Álvarez Chamber Orchestra

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