Anything Goes

Create an original work for any forces and duration

from a single soloist to chamber orchestra*.

For the fourth year running, the Álvarez Chamber Orchestra (ÁCO) is inviting composers of any age and nationality to submit works for an annual composition competition, this season entitled Anything Goes.

There is no specification as to the length or nature of the work.
There may be a vocal component to the work, up to four singers.
Any text may be used; if the text is not in roman script, the composer should provide a phonetic transcription and a recording of the text as spoken.
If electronics are used, if not notated fully in the score, please supply a CD or mp3.
There is no restriction on the number of works submitted by each composer but each piece will incur the same entry fee of £26..
The work may be a new piece or may have been written at any time in the composer’s career.
Each piece should have a pseudonym printed on the cover, and the identity of the composer, including address, email, phone number, biography, photograph and programme notes in a separate sealed envelope also marked with the same pseudonym.
The scores may be submitted electronically as pdf files with the composer's pseudonym as heading to the following address:

alvarezchamberorchestra@hotmail.co.uk

The accompanying details should be sent in another email with the same heading to the

same address.

The deadline for score submission is now January 15th, 2013 for electronic submissions - posted scores arriving later than that date will be disqualified unless postmarked with the closing date of the submission period.
Please contact the ACO at geoffrey.alvarez@virgin.net for further clarification.
The maximum* size of the orchestra is as follows:

2.2.2.2./2.1.1.1/timp./perc./hrp/gtr/pfte/3.3.2.2.1.
Minimum specification is a single performer.
The following doublings are possible:

2^nd fl. db picc. 2^nd ob. db cor 2^nd cl. db bass cl. 2^nd bsn db cbsn 2^nd perc db timp.

There is a first prize of £1000

and a Sibelius 7 Software award donated by Avid.

The entry fee is £26 per work which includes postage costs for return of scores. Payments may be made via Paypal by clicking below:

or by using the alvarezchamberorchestra@yahoo.com address. If you prefer, cheques may be made payable to The Álvarez Chamber Orchestra.

Scores should be sent to 5 Rensburg Road London E17 7HL, the company address given below. There will be a prize of £1000 for the winning work and a performance by the Álvarez Chamber Orchestra during the next ACO season Dreaming under Different Skies also featuring works by members of the reading panel and focusing on the distinctive voices of Malcolm Williamson and Ross Edwards.

Recordings of the works are not required.

The judges will be selected from the following

Dr Linda Hirst: Head of Vocal Faculty, Trinity College of Music. Distinguished international soloist.

Edwin Roxburgh: Composer and conductor: awarded the Cobbett Medal for Services to Music.

Fomerly Professor at the Royal College of Music and Birmingham Conservatoire.

Paul Patterson: Manson Professor of Composition, Royal Academy of Music

Giles Swayne: Composer in Residence, Clare College, Cambridge

Geoffrey Alvarez: Conductor, The Alvarez Chamber Orchestra

The competition will be administered by ÁCO treasurer Trevor Huntley, Audrey Ellison, J Audrey Ellison International Artists' Management and secretary Phillip Costen.

All submissions will be returned with a detailed report of the adjudication.

The jury reserve the right not to award a prize if the submissions are not of sufficient quality.

Further details:
Geoffrey Álvarez
Artistic Director/Conductor
The Álvarez Chamber Orchestra

Registered Charity No. 1120668
Company Limited by Guarantee No. 6227728.
Registered in England and Wales.
Registered Office: 5 Rensburg Road London E17 7HL

http://freespace.virgin.net/geoffrey.alvarez/alvarezorchestra.htm
Telephone: +4420 8521 7642
Mobile: 07710 427 923