Thompson Street Opera Company (TSOC) announces our Call for Scores for our 2026–2027 season! We are currently holding an open call for scores for our two productions, loosely planned for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Beginning in our upcoming season, a $500 honorarium will be offered for each programmed work. If the work has a libretto by a living writer, this honorarium will be evenly divided between the two creators.

We are specifically looking for works that:

  • are between 25 minutes and 2 hours in length
  • come directly from the composer rather than through a publisher or agency
  • have a cast of 5 singers or fewer (no chorus)
  • require no more than 5 instrumentalists* (including piano) OR are for piano alone. We especially encourage additional parts for saxophone, clarinet, flute, viola, and/or cello. *only 1 of the 5 instrumentalists may be a percussionist*
  • engage with contemporary issues in nuanced and human ways
  • have been performed two or fewer times
  • priority consideration will be given to works by composers from traditionally under-programmed groups

We are now accepting works with amplification and/or 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.

If you have a piece with instrumentation needs in excess of the above stipulations but would like the piece considered for performance with piano reduction, please only select “piano” as the instrument and include a copy of the piano score.  Works that fall outside these parameters may not be reviewed. 

We strongly encourage works which would be well-suited to performances in black box, cabaret, or thrust theater stages. TSOC is a storefront opera company currently in residence at the Bramble Arts Loft in Andersonville, Chicago. In addition, we highly encourage works that have a high proportion of roles for treble voices, and/or flexible vocal requirements (i.e. “mezzo or baritone”, “soprano or tenor”, etc).
TSOC has enjoyed performing works of all genres, including comedies. We welcome submissions of evening-length and one-act works on any theme. We do not accept works in progress.

For questions about submitting, please email callforscores@thompsonstreetopera.org.