Pacific Chamber Orchestra is pleased to announce the fifth-year annual reading workshop with a concluding public performance to take place Sunday October 26, 2025, in Livermore, CA. The program is open to emerging composers (under 40 at the time of the workshop) who are to submit new works representing/emanating from/dedicated to an aspect of the cultural heritages and diversity that constitutes our American tapestry. Dream American is open only to composers who are U.S. Citizens, permanent U.S. residents or are establishing themselves as such and able to provide supporting documentation. BIPOC, ALANA, and LGBTQIA, URG applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. PCO is committed to inclusiveness.

Up to five composers will be selected for participation. Selection is based upon two factors: the quality of the work submitted and the potential benefit and growth for the composer. All decisions are at the discretion of the judges and are final. Each participating composer will receive a $500 award. Selected composers must attend and are responsible for all their own expenses. PCO may be able to host individual composers.

Timeline:

  • Deadline for applications and score submissions: August 26, 2025 @ 11:59 PM
  • Notification of winners: no later than September 1, 2025
  • Parts must arrive by October 1, If the parts are not received by this date, there is no guarantee that the composer will be allowed to participate, the work will be read or the award granted.

Opportunities and process once selected:

  • Each composer will have a zoom meeting with the conductor prior to the workshop.
  • A google doc forum with orchestra members will allow for technical matters to be addressed.
  • During the workshop each work will be read, discussed with conductor & Composer Mentors and rehearsed. A final public performance, audience Q&A and a celebratory dinner will conclude the day.
  • A zoom panel review discussion with all workshop participants, the composer mentors and conductor will be held a week or so following the workshop.
  • The public performance will be videotaped and recorded for private study purposes, applications, and resume portfolios for seeking other commissions.  All other uses must be first approved by PCO. All public displays and sharing including website, social media, YouTube, etc. are expressly prohibited.

Submission requirements:

  • Preferably 6-8 minutes of music with 5 minutes minimum and 10 minutes maximum.
  • May be a complete piece, a movement or section of a larger work.
  • It must not have been read or performed by a professional orchestra.
  • If it is a version of a pre-existing work, it must be substantially different.

Instrumental requirements:

  • If the instrumentation of the submitted work is somewhat different from the required instrumentation below, it must be able to be modified to fit the requirements by Oct 1.
  • The final work must NOT use a piano and must NOT be a work for soloist and orchestra.
  • Maximum size ensemble: 1 flute (pic), 1 oboe (EH), 1 clarinet (Bass/E-flat), 1 bassoon, 1 French horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 harp, 6 Violin I, 5 Violin II, 4 Viola, 3 Cello, 1 String Bass, 4 percussion (instruments allowed are timpani, vibraphone, various drums and small percussion instruments.  Please inquire as to the availability of other percussion instruments.
  • Minimum size ensemble: full strings plus at least five other non-percussion