Call for Scores | 2025-2026 Season
Thompson Street Opera Company (TSOC) announces our Call for Scores for our 2025-2026 season!
Chicago’s home for “stellar performances,” “tight, intricate, and polished” instrumental work, and “consistently solid interpretations” of new opera is looking to fill yet another vibrant season. Thompson Street Opera Company exclusively produces the works of living composers, lovingly staged in intimate venues with exceptional performers. We are particularly interested in presenting works that engage with contemporary issues in nuanced and human ways, works by composers from historically marginalized groups, and works that have been performed two or fewer times.
We are currently holding an open call for scores for our two MAINSTAGE productions, loosely planned for fall 2025 and late spring 2026.
We are specifically looking for works within the following limitations:
– between 25 minutes and 2 hours in length
– will come directly from the composer rather than through a publisher or agency
– a cast of 5 singers or fewer (no chorus)
– small instrumental ensembles (no more than 5 players including piano) or are conceived for piano alone. please note: only ONE of the instrumentalists may be a percussionist
Applicants may be of any age or nationality, though strong preference will be given to composers in the “emerging” stages of their career, regardless of age.
Thanks to funding for a production in our current season, we have removed our previous prohibition on amplification and live electronics! That being said, if a separate person is needed to operate the electronic elements, that person is included in the limit of 5 instrumentalists.When submitting a piece with electronics or amplification, please keep in mind that the spaces that we perform in are typically small (seating 40-60 people) and amp levels will need to be quite low in order to be comfortable for both audiences and artists.
Works that fall outside these parameters will not be reviewed. If you have a work with instrumentation needs in excess of the above stipulations but would like the piece considered with piano reduction, please only select “piano” as the instrument and include a copy of the piano score.
We do not accept works in progress. The reason for this is simple: we don’t want to ask you to do unpaid labor! We are not currently in a position to pay commissioning fees, and therefore we feel the most equitable way to manage this is to only accept submissions of works that are ready to perform.
In addition, we highly encourage works that have a high proportion of roles for treble voices, and/or which have flexible vocal requirements (i.e. “mezzo or baritone”, “soprano or tenor”, etc). We also strongly encourage works which would be well-suited to performance in non-traditional theatrical settings.
TSOC has enjoyed performing works of all genres, including comedies. We welcome submissions of evening-length and one-act works on any theme.
Please complete the form below, being sure to upload the required materials. If you would like to submit multiple works, please fill out a separate form for each work.
Submitting to this call serves as an acknowledgement that TSOC will automatically be granted performance rights for your work if we select it for our season.
All performances will take place in Chicago, IL. Composers are not required to attend, though they are welcome to be present for tech week and performances. At this time we do not guarantee the availability of travel funds, but we can offer host housing.