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- How many scores are we actually supposed to send? [answer]
- How many recordings should I send? [answer]
- What if I don't have three works that precisely match the application guidelines? [answer]
- What constitutes a piece “that demonstrate your current compositional activity”? [answer]
- May I submit works for women's or men's choruses? [answer]
- Will BCE return scores after the judging? [answer]
- How specific do I have to be in my proposal? [answer]
- How do I get and then prove copyright clearance on my proposed text? [answer]
- May I pay the deposit in cash? [answer]
- Will the application fee be refunded if I do not win? [answer]
- What methods can I use to pay the entry fee? [answer]
- What do you mean by "works list"? [answer]
- Is this competition anonymous? [answer]
- The rules require I establish my identity. What documents are sufficient and why do you collect this information? [answer]
- I'm overseas and know my submission will arrive late, what should I do? [answer]
- The deadline has just passed, can I still submit? [answer]
- How difficult may the new work be? [answer]
- May I write for instrumental accompaniment of any sort? [answer]
- What type of divisi or solo writing can I incorporate? [answer]
- I can't download any of the PDFs (poster or application). What can I do? [answer]
- May I submit my information electronically? [answer]
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How many scores are we actually supposed to send?
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The competition rules stipulate that each applicant must submit “three (3) sample scores, in five (5) copies each that demonstrate your current compositional activity.” In other words, each application should contain 15 actual pieces of music.
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If one of the pieces is especially long, consider sending a 3–5 minutes excerpt. [Jump to rules]
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How many recordings should I send?
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Please send only one recording (CD). The competition coordinator will distribute copies electronically.
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What if I don't have three works that precisely match the application guidelines?
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Unfortunately, the Jury requires three representative works that are for choir and one must be unaccompanied.
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To be sure, a composer may choose to submit two varied movements of a larger work as two separate works. Do not, however, submit three movements from one work.
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What constitutes a piece "that demonstrate your current compositional activity"?
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Any piece that demonstrates, roughly, what BCE may expect from the commission suffices. The Jury prefers recent works, however, so that they can assess most accurately what a new work might sound like.
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May I submit works for women's or men's choruses?
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Yes, you may. Please include, though, at least one work for mixed voices.
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Will BCE return scores after the judging?
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No. Unfortunately, BCE is unable to return scores due to the sheer volume of submissions. Please be advised that you should never send originals or manuscripts as BCE is not liable for application materials. [Jump to rules]
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How specific do I have to be in my proposal?
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The more specific you can be, the better the jury will be able to anticipate the results of the competition. In the past, applicants have written about one to two pages and described such things as the way they might treat each part of a text, how the piece would compliment the theme of the concert, the text proposed, etc. In the end, there is no specific answer, just a description of what we might expect if you win.
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How do I get and then prove copyright clearance on my proposed text?
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Before the Jury can select a winner, they must be assured that the proposed commission will not incur any legal difficulties because of copyrighted text. If you've received permission via e-mail, please include a printed copy of the e-mail for the judges. Before the commissioning process can begin, though, written confirmation of permission granted by the copyright holder will be required. The Boston Choral Ensemble will assume no responsibility for securing permissions. [Jump to rules]
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May I pay the deposit in cash?
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Please do not pay in cash. Send payment for the application fee in the form of check or money order. [Jump to rules]
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Will the application fee be refunded if I do not win?
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No. The application fee is intended to cover administrative costs associated the the administration and judging of the competition. Since all applications must be processed—including those that are disqualified for incomplete materials—no fees will be returned.
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What methods can I use to pay the entry fee?
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You may pay the application fee in the form of check or money order. [Jump to rules]
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What do you mean by “works list”?
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Please include a list of all works you've composed, or, at least all those you've written that include voice. Please note date of composition and voicing/accompaniment. No actual musical examples are needed beyond those that constitute the three (3) examples.
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Is this competition anonymous?
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No. Please note, though, that eligibility is not limited to any category of person. [Jump to rules]
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The rules require I establish my identity. What documents are sufficient and why do you collect this information?
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Any government-issue ID is sufficient. Examples include copies of passport or driver's license. This information is securely stored by the Competition Coordinator and is used only to verify the identity of the composer.
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I'm overseas and know my submission will arrive late, what should I do?
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Provided that your application is postmarked by the deadline, you need not work. Please, however, send by a reasonably quick method such as Airmail if you send close to the deadline.
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The deadline has just passed, can I still submit?
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No. Because of the sheer volume of applications and administrative work for the Competition, late applications can not be considered by the jury. Note, however, that the Competition is annual and you may submit your materials for the next year's Competition.
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How difficult may the new work be?
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The Boston Choral Ensemble membership is comprised of advanced, amateur singers. For a general concept of the group's ability, consider past years' repertoire and recordings. Note, of course, that the winning composer will be in close communication with the Ensemble's conductor to help steer the new work.
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May I write for instrumental accompaniment of any sort?
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No. This competition is exclusively for unaccompanied works. [Jump to rules]
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What type of divisi or solo writing can I incorporate?
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The Boston Choral Ensemble generally maintains a membership of 28–32 amateur voices. Therefore, limited divisi up to 12 voice parts is acceptable. Extensive solo passages are not encouraged. Note, of course, that the winning composer will be in close communication with the Ensemble's conductor to help steer the new work.
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I can't download any of the PDFs (poster or application). What can I do?
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We're sorry you're having difficulty with our site! Please contact the Competition Coordinator directly to send you the PDFs in an individual e-mail.
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May I submit my information electronically?
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At this time, all application materials must be sent in the package that you send with scores and the signed application. If you'd like to send your materials in PDF (preferred) or Word format as well, your materials would be welcomed to ease in the distribution of materials to the jury.
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