“CALL FOR SCORES”
2025 COMPOSER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
The Sioux City Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) and Music Director Ryan Haskins are pleased to issue a “Call for Scores” for the SCSO’s 2025 Composer of the Year Competition.
The Sioux City Symphony Orchestra is committed to educating, developing, and promoting American composers. The SCSO Composer of the Year Competition is designed to annually highlight one talented composer who is currently in the early stages of their professional career. In addition to a five thousand US dollars ($5,000.00) monetary prize, the SCSO’s Composer of the Year will receive a premiere performance by the Sioux City Symphony, press/media coverage, scheduled lectures at selected local colleges and universities, and involvement in a variety of other community-related outreach programs.
In addition to the performance, the Sioux City Symphony has arranged to broadcast and digitally archive the concert on its on-demand platform and app SCSO.LIVE. The Composer of the Year will be granted exclusive access to the post-concert release and any additional content, interviews, or behind-the-scenes footage from the featured concert and rehearsal process.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Applicants must be US Citizens in the early stages of their professional careers.
- Submitted work may have yet to receive a performance or a reading by a professional orchestra. (school/conservatory performances do not count as professional readings/performances) 3. Work should be five (5) to fifteen (15) minutes long.
- Concertos and choral works are not eligible.
- Instrumentation must not exceed:
2 fl [1.2/pic], 2 ob [ 1.2/eh], 2 cl [1.2/bcl], 2 bsn [1.2/cbn], 4 hn, 2 tp, 2 tbn, 1 b-tbn, 1 tuba, timp +3, hp, pf/cel, str SCSO 2025 Composer of the Year Competition PAGE 1
SUBMIT: (COMPLETED APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025)
- Score must be submitted in PDF format
- One (1) computer-generated score of a work written within the last five (5) years
- A recording is required (MIDI is acceptable)
- One (1) current curriculum vitae that includes the applicant’s current address, telephone number, email address, and proof of US Citizenship
- A short bio of the composer in PDF format (150 words max)
- A brief description of the work and notes detailing performance history, if any, including all dates and names of performing ensembles.
All materials must be submitted via email: siouxcitysymphony@gmail.com
The Selection Panel will include Music Director Ryan Haskins, Composer Clint Needham, and other artistic team members.
The Selection Panel will review all submitted applications and select a group to advance as finalists. The Panel will then interview the finalists (via phone). Composers will speak briefly about their work and their compositional process and offer any additional concepts that may help an audience engage with their work.
The SCSO will share results with all applicants by Monday, July 14, 2025.
Upon selection, the Composer of the Year will travel to Sioux City (date to be determined), participate in rehearsals with the orchestra, and attend the premiere performance. The Composer of the Year will also participate in various community outreach activities. The COY must provide the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra with a complete set of parts (at no additional cost to the SCSO) that conform to the Major Orchestral Librarians Association Guidelines.
TRAVEL
The Sioux City Symphony will provide the Composer of the Year with one (1) round-trip flight to Sioux City, IA.
LODGING / GROUND TRANSPORTATION
The Sioux City Symphony will provide the Composer of the Year with hotel accommodations and local ground transportation during their residency in Sioux City.
AWARD
The Sioux City Symphony will award a monetary prize of five thousand US dollars ($5,000.00) to the named Composer of the Year (the recipient is responsible for all US taxes associated with prize money).
SCSO 2025 Composer of the Year Competition PAGE 2
SCSO COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
COMPETITION SUMMARY
DEADLINE:
Applications must be received by Monday, May 12, 2025
WHO MAY APPLY:
US Citizens / Composers in the early stages of their professional career
ENTRY FEE:
There is no longer an entry fee for the SCSO’s Composer of the Year Competition
LIMITATIONS:
One (1) work per applicant will be considered
The composition must be between five (5) and fifteen (15) minutes in duration
PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP:
Copy of passport or birth certificate
INSTRUMENTATION:
Maximum:
2 fl [1.2/pic], 2 ob [ 1.2/eh], 2 cl [1.2/bcl], 2 bsn [1.2/cbn], 4 hn, 2 tp, 2 tbn, 1 b-tbn, 1 tuba, timp +3, hp, pf/cel, str
PRIZE:
Named SCSO Composer of the Year
Five Thousand US dollars ($5,000.00)
Premiere performance by the SCSO (Date TBD)
SCORE/RECORDING/BIO:
One (1) score in PDF format is to be emailed to the address below
A recording is required. MIDI is acceptable
Short bio in PDF format (150 words max) emailed along with score
SCSO 2025 Composer of the Year Competition PAGE 3
SCSO COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
COMPETITION CHECKLIST
Email the following:
___ One (1) computer-generated score in PDF format
___ Recording of piece / MIDI is acceptable
___ A brief description of the piece submitted
___ Short composer bio (150 words max) in PDF format
___ Curriculum Vitae including current address, telephone number, and email address ___ Proof of US Citizenship (scan)
Submit all materials electronically to siouxcitysymphony@gmail.com (Submission Deadline: Monday, May 12, 2025)
Please, NO phone calls – email all questions to
***Submitted compositions that do not conform to these guidelines cannot be considered for the inclusion of this Call for Scores.
***The Selection Panel’s decision is final and reserves the right not to award a prize in a given year. ***Honorable Mention will be awarded at the discretion of the Selection Panel.