RUTH CRAWFORD SEEGER Prize & Scholarship 2024
Elmhurst University is proud to announce the second Ruth Crawford Seeger Prize in honor of this trailblazing American composer and former faculty member. There are two categories: Professional & Student. Winners in the PROFESSIONAL category will receive a monetary prize and will be invited to address our students as Guest Artists; winners in the STUDENT category will receive a large scholarship to study music composition at Elmhurst University – an important step toward a meaningful career in music.
1st Prize: $500 CASH PRIZE (professional category) and up to $26,000 scholarship* award toward a music degree at Elmhurst University (student category).
2nd Prize: $300 CASH PRIZE (professional category) and up to $24,000 scholarship* award toward a music degree at Elmhurst University (student category).
3rd Prize: $200 CASH PRIZE (professional category) and up to $22,000 scholarship* award toward a music degree at Elmhurst University (student category).
Student Honorable Mentions: Campus tour, free lesson with a member of the Elmhurst University composition faculty, and scholarship consideration.
Deadline: Submissions must be received by Sunday December 1, 2024 at 5 EST. Prize winners will be announced by Friday December 13, 2024 by email.
Guidelines: There are two categories: choose the category that makes most sense of your status as student or professional composer. Please submit 1 composition (multiple submissions will not be reviewed and may disqualify application). PLEASE label each file beginning with LAST NAME_FIRST NAME_COMPOSITION NAME (ex. Stravinsky_Igor_Le Sacre du printemps). Failure to adhere to these guidelines may disqualify submission.
Eligibility: For the STUDENT category, any composer (no age limit) that is currently enrolled in high school or has already completed high school may apply. Junior college transfer students and international undergraduate applicants are also encouraged to apply if they are interested in composition studies at Elmhurst University (our institution does not have graduate studies). Graduate students should NOT apply to this category.
In the PROFESSIONAL category, any composer (no age limit) that has already graduated with an undergraduate degree in music and is working as a composer may apply (graduate students should apply to this category). Composers must be able to receive cash prize at a US bank (no international bank transfers will be made).
Judging: Composition faculty at Elmhurst University, David DeVasto (PhD, University of Iowa), and Josh Rodriguez (PhD, UCLA) will adjudicate entries. Judges reserve the right to withhold comments regarding submissions and reserve the right to award no prize.
COMPOSITION: Complete works in any style and chamber ensemble instrumentation – chamber instrumental, vocal/choral, and jazz band – may be submitted and should have a maximum duration of 10 minutes (no movements/excerpts will be accepted). Musical parts of the composition should be clearly notated, and the music must be completely original to the composer. No arrangements will be accepted. Electro-acoustic hybrid works are welcome, and the electronic parts/loops do not need to be notated. Live performance recordings, MIDI, and virtual instrument realizations must be in mp3 audio format. In the student category, film scores are welcome (excerpts/cues are allowed).
Entrance Fee: None.
Submission: Submit a PDF score and mp3 audio file (live or MIDI) of your best piece to (link here) and clearly marked category (Professional/Student). Please include a paragraph with your educational background, primary instrument, high school, music teachers, and a paragraph detailing your career goals. Applications must be received electronically by Sunday December 1, 2024 at 5 EST. Please direct questions about the competition to Dr. Josh Rodriguez (joshua.rodriguez@elmhurst.edu) or Dr. David DeVasto (devastod@elmhurst.edu).
*An exact scholarship package will be offered after an official audition and conversation with Elmhurst University faculty and may improve based on a prospective student’s other musical skills (ex. advanced instrumental or vocal performance level).