Performances + Events
For the second concert in New England Conservatory’s Voices of NEC series celebrating choral works by NEC-affiliated composers, Conservatory alumni are invited to submit an original composition for the opportunity to have their work performed by NEC’s Symphonic Choir or Chamber Singers in Jordan Hall on March 6, 2025.
New England Conservatory is thrilled to announce the second concert in its Voices of NEC performance cycle, a three-year series spearheaded by Director of Choral Activities Erica J. Washburn focused on choral works by NEC-affiliated composers. The March 6, 2025, concert will highlight works by NEC alumni sourced through the newly launched Voices of NEC Choral Composition Performance Competition.
This competition initiative aims to celebrate the talent and creativity of composers within the NEC alumni community, offering them a unique platform to showcase their work and contribute to the rich tradition of choral music. It comes after a successful first Voices of NEC concert in Spring 2024, which featured a program of repertoire focused on current and past NEC faculty composers, including Michael Gandolfi, Kati Agocs, Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, Felicia Sandler, and others.
Any NEC alumni with a graduation date up to May 2024 may submit a choral composition for the competition, regardless of their degree program at the time of graduation. Submissions will remain anonymous, and official selections for the March 6 concert program will be made by Washburn and a panel of distinguished composers and conductors. Winning compositions will be performed by NEC’s skilled choral ensembles in historic Jordan Hall.
“The NEC Choral Department has a long history with regard to the support and performance of new and lesser-known works,” said Washburn. “While it will be impossible for every piece submitted to be performed on March 6, 2025, we are hopeful that through this competition, the Choral Department and NEC as a whole can assist our alumni in getting their works out to the public, while doing so through their connection to the NEC community. All submissions will find a home in the NEC Choral Library so interested conductors can peruse these works and consider them for future performance.”
The Voices of NEC competition is not just an opportunity for composers to present their work; it is a vital part of NEC’s commitment to nurturing artistic innovation and excellence and enriching the choral repertoire with fresh and diverse voices. It serves as a bridge between composers and performers, fostering collaboration and providing invaluable performance experience. The competition also underscores NEC’s dedication to supporting its students and alumni by providing them with opportunities to have their works performed and recognized.
“My personal hope is that our alumni see this as an opportunity to stay connected, or perhaps even reconnect, to the college,” said Washburn. “Since I started at NEC in 2009, I have told every graduating chorister during our last concert call warm-up of the season that, no matter how far they may travel or the professional path they find themselves on, NEC will always be a home for them; musically, socially, emotionally. Their NEC faculty and staff will do whatever we can to support their endeavors, and I see this opportunity as a chance for our entire community to serve each other in this way.”
Eligibility Requirements
- Any NEC alumni with a graduation date up to May 2024 may submit a choral composition, regardless of their degree program at the time of graduation.
- Entry deadline: October 1, 2024
- The winning compositions will be performed by either the NEC Chamber Singers or Symphonic Choir on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in NEC’s Jordan Hall. Composers are not required to attend but are encouraged to do so if they can.
- Texts may be sacred or secular and can be in any language and style. For any text that is not in English, an English translation should be included. Language pronunciation guides are preferred and may be requested.
- Compositions can be 3-7 minutes in length and scored for SATB up to 8-part divisi (SSAATTBB).
- Compositions must include a piano reduction if the piece is a cappella. Compositions with independent piano accompaniment, an obbligato instrument, or a string quartet are eligible.
- Compositions must be original works (not arrangements). Unpublished, previously published, and/or previously commissioned works are eligible. If the adjudication panel selects a published work, NEC will purchase the necessary number of scores. If a piece is unpublished, NEC will cover printing costs on behalf of the composer.
- Texts must be free from copyright restrictions (unless the work is previously published), either in the public domain or with written permission from the poet/copyright holder included in the score submission.
- Composers will retain the copyright of their compositions.
- Composers may anonymously submit up to two compositions.
- The application is free – no fee is required.
How to Participate
Interested composers should visit the official Voices of NEC Choral Composition Performance Competition website for detailed submission guidelines and deadlines. The website provides comprehensive information on the competition’s rules, the submission process, and tips for creating compelling choral works.
NEC encourages all eligible composers to take advantage of this remarkable opportunity to have their music performed and celebrated. The Voices of NEC Choral Composition Performance Competition promises to be an inspiring and transformative experience for participants, highlighting the extraordinary talent and creativity within the NEC community.
Join us in celebrating the next generation of choral composers at NEC! For more information and to submit your composition, visit the Voices of NEC Choral Composition Performance Competition website.
