05/02/2021
With the generous support from the McKnight Foundation, the Minnesota Sinfonia is pleased to
announce a call for new and unpublished (chamber) orchestral scores. Five new works will be
premiered during the 2021-22 season, with composers receiving compensation ranging between
$500 and $6,000 – see below.
Guidelines/Requirements for eligibility:
• The submitted work must be a new, unpublished composition that has not been performed by a
professional orchestra.
• Composers must be native born or current residents of the state of Minnesota.
• The work should be between five and eight minutes long (1- 2 movements).
• The instrumentation can be no larger than the following: 1 flute (no double to piccolo), 2 oboes
(no doubles to English horn), 1 clarinet (A and/or B flat, no bass or e flat), 1 bassoon, 2 French
horns, 1 trumpet, 1 timpani player (2 drums maximum) which can include ad lib percussion
(drum set and a few auxiliary instruments), violin I and II, viola, cello and bass – no divisis for
any of the strings.
• If ad lib percussion is included, it, and the timpani must be playable by one person, and the
percussion is not needed to give a good rendition of the work.
• The work must include the full string compliment listed above but does not necessarily have to
use all of the winds and/or timpani/percussion.
• The work can be an arrangement of another of the composer’s compositions, but the original
piece also must be unpublished, and not have been performed by professional musicians in
concert settings.
• The music must be written in an “approachable” style, appropriate for a broad mix of audience
members - Avant guard, and/or experimental writing are not acceptable.
• The score must be prepared and submitted in finale 26 or earlier, or Sibelius 7 or earlier. XML
versions, along with a pdf and mp3 of the music of Sibelius files will be required.
• All winning compositions and the individual parts must be formatted in 8.5x11” pages.
Formatting instructions will be provided.
• Previous award recipients may submit new works after a five-year waiting period.
• Four composers will be chosen to receive awards ranging from $2,500 to $6,000, the amounts to
be determined by the Sinfonia.
Deadline for entries is August 15, 2021
Additionally, $500 will be awarded to a “young composer” who meets the above guidelines and
is under the age of 19 before June 1, 2021. Deadline for entry is June 1, 2021
All decisions are made by Minnesota Sinfonia Artistic Director, Jay Fishman, and are final.
Enquiries and submissions should be directed to Jay Fishman, Minnesota Sinfonia Artistic
Director at [email protected] Telephone: 612 871 17
