Phoenix Chamber Choir 2022/2023 Student Choral Composition Competition

Rules and Regulations

 

Founded in 1983, Phoenix Chamber Choir is entering its 40th season as one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for diverse and eclectic programming from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works.

The choir has recorded and released eleven CDs throughout its history, including two in 2016/2017 – Why the Caged Bird Sings featuring a collection of contemporary works from composers such as Jake Runestad, Abbie Betinis and Gabriel Jackson, and When the Earth Stands Still highlighting Phoenix’s penchant for lighter works, from composers such as BC’s own Don Macdonald, Daniel Elder and Nick Myers. In 2019, the choir released – Winter Sun, featuring Phoenix’s new Artistic Director, Dr. Nicholle Andrews. In July, the choir will be back in the studio to record their 2021/ 2022 album. 

 

With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble. The choir strives to connect deeply with its audiences by sharing world-class musical experiences, and provides invaluable musical opportunities for British Columbian and Canadian choral artists and composers. Phoenix strives for and achieves the highest level of choral performance and audience engagement.

 

For more than three decades, the Phoenix Chamber Choir has played an integral part in developing young musicians, composers and conductors in Vancouver, and has helped to establish Canada’s West Coast as one of the most important centres of choral music in the world. 

 

Rules and Regulations

1. Participation is open to any undergraduate or graduate composition student. 
2. For this choral competition we invite students to submit one SATB choral composition. The piece will be judged by a 5-member jury consisting of choral conductors, composers and performers.  Special consideration will be given to those pieces that demonstrate excellence in compositional craft, imagination, idiomatic effectiveness, and a fresh approach to choral writing. 
3. All submissions must be in pdf format.
4. Deadline for Entry August 1, 2022, 11:59pm PST.
5. Students are not required to be composition majors or music majors.
6. Must be an original composition and not an arrangement. It must not have been previously commissioned, performed or published.
7. All works must be a cappella. If the text is not in English, a pronunciation guide (IPA) must be included. 
8. The winning composer’s work will be premiered February 11, 2023 in Vancouver, Canada. Compositions can take many directions, however the following parameters must be followed:
   • A cappella for 4-part SATB chorus, with divisi if appropriate
   • Duration of 3-4 minutes
   • For medium to advanced choirs
   • The text must be relevant to the theme of the concert “Love” and available in the public domain. If not public domain, permission must be obtained in writing from the author or copyright holder of the text and submitted with application.
   • The score and midi recording and rehearsal tracks (individual recordings of each voice, SATB) must be completed and submitted with application. Scores must be submitted electronically, in PDF format August 1, 2022.
   • The winning piece must be marked, whenever possible, as the “2022 winning entry of the Phoenix Chamber Choir student choral composition competition” on the music score, cover, and in the concert program.
9. The composer will be featured in social media and promotional materials prior to the premiere, including a short video of the composer speaking about their piece to be included in an online concert release.
10. There is no entry fee for the competition.
11. The jury reserves the right not to award any prize and Phoenix Chamber Choir (PCC) reserves the right not to perform the submitted composition.
12. Compositions submitted to the competition shall be deemed the Intellectual Property of the submitting composer and any rights relating to this shall remain with the composer. The winner of the competition shall grant PCC the right to premiere the submitted composition. No public performance shall be allowed prior to the premiere performance. PCC shall not pay any fee to the composer for any audio and/or audiovisual recordings of the performance.
13. The winning composer will receive a professional recording of the premiere of their work.
14. Participation in the competition implies full knowledge and acceptance of these regulations. PCC does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. 
15. All questions should be directed to Phoenix Chamber Choir, admin@phoenixchoir.com 
16. The winner will receive an honorarium of $500 CAD. The jury’s decision is final.

 

Please use this form to submit your composition