No Strings Attached

The 2022 Alvarez Chamber Orchestra composition competition in association with Universal Edition.

Details and Regulations

Compose or submit an existing original work of any duration and scale: from a solo piece to orchestra, without stringed instruments*.

The first prize is £1000 and publication by Universal Edition: worth €600.

The Mullord Award is £500.

All participants will get a voucher for a
free submission to scodo worth €49.

Closing date 22nd October, 2022
The results will be published in early December, 2022.

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

• 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 - No Strings Attached + 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 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 and programme notes. 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.
• Please contact the administrator, Trevor Huntley for further clarification.

 

The maximum* size of the orchestra is as follows:

any keyboard

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 of £26 per work 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.

Jury members will be announced later next year, but in the past the membership has included 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
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, and secretary Phillip Costen.

• The decision of the jury will be final and binding.

• 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.

The Álvarez Chamber Orchestra                                                    

Registered Charity No. 1120668                                                    Company Limited by Guarantee No. 6227728.                             Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: 28 Thornhill Terrace,                                   Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7JL

http://alvarezchamberorchestra.com/