Opens: March 15, 2018
Deadline: April 30, 2018

The Boston New Music Initiative is announcing a call for scores to be programmed on a concert in collaboration with an established guest string quartet as part of BNMI’s tenth season. Incorporated in 2010, BNMI aims to advance the careers of its members in the field of new music by serving as a resource for networking, professional development, commissioning, collaboration, and programming. The call is open for acoustic, electro-acoustic, and multimedia works. The competition is open to all composers with no restrictions.

The theme of BNMI's Tenth Season, which runs from 2018-2019 will be “The Beauty of the Line.” We aim to program one (1) to three (3) works per category. Works chosen for this will be presented at a performance to take place in the Fall of 2018.

Categories

Category 1: String Quartet(+)
Works for string quartet alone or with one or two instruments from BNMI’s core ensemble (see Instrumentation below). Submissions should be for four to six instruments.

Category 2: Pierrot Ensemble(+)
Works for at three or more players, at least two of which must be from BNMI’s core ensemble (see Instrumentation below), with the possible addition of one or more members from the string quartet. Maximum Instrumentation: Fl, Cl, 3 Vln, Vla, 2 Vc, Pno, Perc.

At this time we are not accepting solos, duets, or works with any instrument not listed. See Instrumentation below for acceptable doublings. Works with electronics are accepted, see below for specifications.

We strongly encourage all composers to download and review the BNMI Submission Guide ahead of submitting to this competition.

Details

1. Instrumentation. BNMI’s core ensemble consists of Flute (doubling Piccolo, Alto Flute, or Bass Flute), Clarinet in B-flat (doubling Clarinet in A or Bass Clarinet in B-flat), Violin, Violoncello, Piano, and Percussion. Works with unusual percussion instruments or a large number of percussion instruments may not be able to be programmed. Stereo electronic, electroacoustic, or multimedia works are accepted, but live performers must be used (no fixed-media).
2. Duration. Works can be of any duration, although preference may be given to works which are 12 minutes or less.
3. Multimedia. For all multimedia submissions, composers must either indicate that they have the rights to the specific multimedia element to be used (e.g. the film, tape, MAX/MSP patch, choreography, artwork, etc.) and grant BNMI permission to utilize it during performance, or else grant BNMI permission, at its discretion, to create a multimedia element. In the second case, BNMI reserves the right to incorporate or not to incorporate multimedia elements at its sole discretion.
4. Electronics. Scores of works involving electronic elements must include information on the specific technical requirements for performance. Likewise, multimedia works must indicate any extramusical forces needed. Works utilizing excessive electronic equipment may not be able to be programmed.
5. Number of Entries. There is no limit on the number of works a composer may submit; however, each work should be submitted as a separate entry. Multi-movement works should be submitted as single entries, even if movements are in separate files. (The submission process allows for multiple files per entry.)
6. Anonymity. All submissions must be anonymous. Scores, proposals, or other materials with names or other identifying marks will not be considered. Please remove all identifying marks from all materials (except the composer information page, see submission process below) before submitting. Please make sure no meta-data including names or identifying marks remain in submitted files. No pseudonyms or code numbers are necessary. If you have a supporting visual artist involved, please remove their names as well.
7. Membership. Composers wishing to submit scores must become members of BNMI; Associate Membership is free and Full Membership is $20 a year. Information on membership benefits can be found here.
8. File Formats. The only acceptable file formats are:
   • For the score: .pdf
   • For (optional) audio recordings: .mp3 or .m4a
   • For (optional) video: .mov or .m4v
   • All other materials: .doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf, .odt, or .pdf
9. Delivery of Music. Selected composers are required to provide electronic copies of the full score and parts within four (4) weeks of their notification of selection. If electronics or multimedia are involved, all files required for performance and rehearsal must be submitted within the same time frame.
10. Permission for Use. By submitting to this call, the composer gives permission to record audio and video of any and all concerts and events hosted by or associated with BNMI in which the submitted piece is included. BNMI shall possess ownership of recorded audio and video and maintains the right to publicly distribute audio and video for promotional purposes. BNMI shall not publicly distribute the recording of any performance for financial gain.
11. Questions? Please address any questions to info@bostonnewmusic.org. Note: Please do NOT send submission materials to this email address as the materials cannot be submitted using this method. When submitting inquiries, please be as generic as possible, and do not include the title of your piece in the query in order to preserve anonymity.

Submission Process
Composers are asked to use our submission portal to upload the following materials (each as separate documents). If this is your first time submitting, please review our submission guide prior to starting the submission process.

1. An anonymous PDF file of the score.
2. A recording of the work (not required but encouraged)
3. For works using electronics, a detailed description of technical requirements and processes needed (i.e. a “tech rider”).
4. An entry fee for each submission.  The entry fee for this competition is $15 for Associate Members, and $5 for Full Members. Membership information can be found here.
5. An information sheet containing the following:
   • Composer’s contact information (name, phone number, physical mailing address, email address, and website URL, if any)
   • Title, instrumentation, and duration of the work
   • Work’s date of completion and complete performance history
   • Performing rights organization (ASCAP, BMI, etc.) associated with the work and/or composer, if any
   • Composer’s year of birth (for program information only)
   • Composer biography and program notes for the work (maximum 300 words each), to be used if the work is selected. BNMI reserves the right to truncate the program notes or composer biography if either exceeds the word limit.

We strongly encourage all composers to download and review the BNMI Submission Guide ahead of submitting to this competition.

1. Please note that new memberships may take up to 24 hours to be approved (although usually much less). Composers signing up as new members who wish to submit to this competition should be sure to allot enough time for the approval process to complete in order to meet the April 30 deadline.
2. The submission portal is not available without login credentials. Composers who are not existing BNMI members should not attempt to go to the submission portal without submitting a membership application first: http://www.bostonnewmusic.org/membership in order to create login credentials.
3. Once your files have been added for each work, be sure to complete your payment in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. Full members must have dues paid in full in order to receive full membership benefits, including discounts on Calls for Scores and commissioning competitions. For those composers submitting more than one entry, payment should be made only after ALL entries have been completed.
4. More questions? Please see our submission guide.

Click here to submit.