Opportunities

Call for Submissions: inner sOUndscapes | Saxophone

inner sOUndscapes is a concert series dedicated to electroacoustic music, organized by the computer music studio of the University of Oklahoma, School of Music. For its Fall 2025 edition, inner sOUndscapes accepts anonymous submissions for works for solo soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass saxophones, accompanied by live electronics or fixed media. We are also open to any combinations of the aforementioned instruments: duos, trios, quartets, etc and electronics. New works that have not been premiered are particularly welcomed! The selected works will be performed by students during the inner sOUndscapes concert at the University of Oklahoma, School of Music in mid-November.

9th Annual Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition

The Ninth Annual Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition seeks 5-6 min. choral works. The selected composer will be commissioned to write a 5-6 minute work for True Concord to premiere during the 2026-27 season. The text will be selected in collaboration with the University of Arizona Poetry Center. Awardees receive a $2,000 prize and a $500 travel stipend. Deadline: Aug. 31.

W3 Composer Fellowship

The W3 Composer Fellowship is a tuition-free, fully virtual opportunity for emerging composers, created in partnership with the inaugural Tenby International Music Festival (Wales) and Wyoming International Chamber Music Festival (USA). Two Fellows will be selected—one from Wales and one from Wyoming or its neighboring states. Each will have their composition workshopped and performed at both festivals, with video and audio recordings provided for portfolio or promotional use.

National Young Composers Challenge

The National Young Composers Challenge is now accepting submissions from US-based composers ages 13-18 works for orchestra or chamber group. Submissions must be no longer than 5 minutes. Six winners will receive cash awards – $1,000 for orchestral, $500 for chamber ensemble – and have their music performed live by members of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the NYCC Composium event held in Steinmetz Hall in Orlando, FL. 

The 2025 Saint Francis of Assisi International Music Composition Competition

Comisión Nacional para los Centenarios Franciscanos, acting through Fundación Escuela Superior de Estudios Franciscanos, calls for a composition competition on the occasion of the 8th Centenary of the poem “Laudes Creaturarum” of St. Francis of Assisi. The aim is to create an original musical work based on the poem. Winners receive 4,000 euro, not including tax deductions, and premiere of their work as part of the VIII Centenary Celebration of St. Francis in Spain.

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble 2025 Composition Contest

The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble announces their 2025 Composition Contest. For 25 years, the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble has commissioned new works through a yearly contest. This year’s contest winner will receive a $2,000 award and a live recording of the premiere by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble in their 26-27 season. Composers may submit as many works as they like, aligning with the request instrumentation of 1-5 players.

True Concord Inaugural Christmas Carol Competition

True Concord Voices & Orchestra seeks new, unpublished Christmas works for its December 2025 Lessons & Carols by Candlelight Concerts and/or its Holiday Special. The winning piece(s) may be either an original Christmas-themed composition or an arrangement of a pre-existing Christmas carol tune. Awardees will receive $1,000. Applications may submit a work for SATB voicing, with or without instrumentation, between 3-6 minutes, with text either in the public domain OR used with permission of the author. Sacred and secular text is permitted.

2026-2027 Loghaven Artist Residency

Loghaven invites emerging and established artists to apply for two to six-week residencies occurring in 2026 and 2027. All resident artists receive a living stipend of $850 per week in addition to travel and freight reimbursement. Artists can find inspiration across Loghaven’s award-winning 90-acre campus, which includes beautifully rehabilitated log cabins and light-filled studio spaces.

Lorelei Ensemble 2025 Call for Scores from Women, Nonbinary, and Trans Composers

Lorelei Ensemble announces its 2025 Call for Scores inviting women, nonbinary, and trans composers to submit works of 3-4 minutes in length. Works should be original music (not arrangements) with original or public domain text, scored for a cappella SSSSMMAA voices, and thematically appropriate for inclusion in Lorelei’s new Christmas / Winter Solstice program, Frost and Fire. The work will be premiered in Philadelphia, PA on December 12, 2025, with subsequent performances to be announced. The winning composer will be awarded a $1000 prize, along with travel (within the continental US) and accommodations to attend the premiere in Philadelphia.

Khemia Ensemble Commission Contest

Khemia is seeking an enthusiastic, collaborative composer to commission and write a brand new 5-7 minute work for our full instrumentation: Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano, Two Percussion, Optional Multimedia. The winning composer will receive a $2,000 commissioning award, a world premiere performance during our 2026-27 season, and a $750 travel stipend to attend the premiere. Upon selection, the composer will collaborate with us throughout the whole process—including the development, workshopping, and premiere of the work.

The 48th Annual Festival of New American Music Call for Scores

The 48th Festival of New American Music Call for Scores is open to composers of any age. Applicants must reside in the United States, Mexico or Canada. International students on student visas and studying at Colleges and Universities in the US may also apply. Applicants may submit original compositions that fall into four instrumental categories. Compositions must not exceed 10 minutes. Winners receive a $300 award.

Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest

The American Bandmasters Association (ABA) and John Philip Sousa Foundation are proud to announce the 65th Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest. Applications must submit an original composition for band with the traditional instrumental configuration and can submit up to three compositions each year. The winning composition will be performed at the 2026 American Bandmasters Association Convention in Chicago, Illinois, March 3-8, 2026.

Ensemble for These Times Call for Scores: Works for Solo Piano, Four-Hands

Ensemble for These Times (E4TT) announces a Call for Scores for its 2025/26 (18th) season. Compositions should be for four-hand acoustic pianos of a duration of 3-12 minutes. Chosen works will be performed by E4TT emerita pianist Dale Tsang and partner(s) on March 1, 2026. 

Sitka Lutheran Organ Composition Competition

Sitka Lutheran Church in Sitka, Alaska is enthused to invite young composers to submit organ works for a composition competition. Compositions must be 7-10 minutes in length, suitable for Sitka Lutheran’s 1844 Kessler organ, and must incorporate the melody “Finlandia,” by Jean Sibelius.

Cry of the Earth Call for Scores

Seeks unpublished and unrecorded 3-6 minute choral works related to themes present within Pope Francis’s Laudato si encyclical, from any composers. 10 selected works will be performed and recorded at Loyola University Chicago on October 4. Additional performances will also be planned at other universities throughout North America.

Duo Nessi Call for Collaborations

Seeks work samples from composers who currently live in countries different from the ones where they were born. Two selected composers will collaborate over the course of one year to create a new work for sho and kamancheh, to be performed on the 2026-27 season.

ARTZenter Emerging Composer Completion Grants

Seeks 50-75 measures or in-progress chamber orchestra works, from composers who are currently enrolled in academic programs of study in music composition in the United States. Up to 8 finalist composers will each receive $3000 to finish their works. 4 winning composers will be invited to participate in a 2-day rehearsal session at San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre, and will each receive accommodations and a $600 stipend for airfare.

Pacific Chamber Orchestra Dream American Workshop

Seeks 5-10 minute orchestral works, preferably 6-8 minutes, which have not been read or performed by professional orchestras, from composers under age 40 who are US citizens or residents. Submitted works should represent, emanate from or be dedicated to an aspect of cultural heritage and diversity. Five selected composers will each receive a $500 stipend and a workshop with the Pacific Chamber Orchestra, concluding in a public performance on October 26, 2025 in Livermore, California.

Espacios Sonoros Open Call

Seeks 5-15 minute multichannel electroacoustic works (ambisonics B-format is preferred) from any composers, with a special category for Latin American composers under age 35. Selected works will be presented in Salta, Argentina in September 2025.

Westside Chamber Players Call for Scores

Seeks 6-10 minute chamber orchestra works from composers who are students enrolled in the 2024-25 academic year. Two winning works will be performed and recorded during the 2025-26 season. The $10 application fee can be waived if it presents a financial barrier to applying.