New England Philharmonic
Performing the masterpieces of our time.

Call for Scores

One of the only orchestras of its size in the country with a Composer-in-Residence program, the New England Philharmonic conducts an annual Call for Scores that receives hundreds of submissions from contemporary composers from around the world. Works are selected from these scores to be presented on one of our season's programs, often for the first time locally or nationally. By presenting these new works in the context of pieces by established composers—including classics of the symphonic repertory—the New England Philharmonic demonstrates that orchestral music is not a finished collection of museum pieces, but a living, evolving tradition. This approach has won the orchestra excellent reviews and wide recognition, including seven national awards for programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), and one of the first grants from the Aaron Copland Fund for New music.

The Call for Scores co-winners for 2007-08 are Carl Christian Bettendorf for Cryptic Circle, which NEP performed on October 27, 2007, and Carlos Rafael Rivera for Popol-Vuh: 4 Mayan Dance Scenes, which NEP performed on April 26, 2008.

Eligibility:

• Scores will be accepted from emerging composers who have not yet established widespread peer recognition.
• A processing fee of $35 must accompany each submission.
• The submitted score will be no longer than a 15-minute duration.
• Instrumentation may include up to the following:
  3 flutes (1 doubling piccolo)
  3 oboe (1 doubling English Horn)
  3 clarinet (1 doubling bass clarinet)
  3 bassoon (1 doubling contrabassoon)
  4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones (3rd is bass trombone), 1 tuba
  1 timpanist, 3 percussion, harp, piano/celesta
  Strings
• Concertos, vocal works, and works for only strings, woodwinds or brass are not eligible

Application Deadline: All packages must arrive at 1906 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA by March 31, 2008. Please plan your shipping date accordingly, and choose shipping method to be sure of the arrival date.

How to Apply: Please send the following:

• A bound and legible score of one orchestra work; labeled with your name, address, duration of the work
• A recording of the submitted work, if available
• Program notes, including the work's performance history
• Composer biography
• Optional: Self-addressed/stamped envelope for return of materials. Note: All other scores will be disposed of the week following the judges' decision.
• A check or money order for $35 (or $30 for each score, if you are submitting multiple works) made out to the New England Philharmonic. The preferred payment method for international submissions is USD cash. Alternately, you may submit $35 through Paypal using the "donations" page on this website.