Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest for Women Only!

[Janet Spangenberg]

I have copied and pasted the following from their website, http://www.swojo.org/compcontestapply.html Check their site for entry forms, and the most accurate information in case they update it from the time I've pasted it here! The Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra announces the first annual
Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest for Women!

about the contest

The Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra (SWOJO) announces the First Annual Jazz Ensemble Composition Contest for Women Composers. For the 2013 contest, all entries must feature trumpet soloist, or at least contain a significant trumpet solo portion. Entries will be accepted from women only.

contest details

The winning piece will be performed and recorded by the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra with a special guest artist as part of the 2013 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle, Washington.

The contest has been created to encourage the composition and performance of the highest possible quality of jazz ensemble literature playable by high school, honor bands, college bands and professional bands alike. Therefore, the winner of the contest will receive a concert audio recording of their piece performed by the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra with our special guest and an honorarium ($300). The winning piece will be published by SWOJO or their designated publisher.

entry deadline

Entries must be received by June 30, 2013.

contest rules

• 1. Entries must be original, unpublished compositions for instrumental jazz ensemble, written by a woman composer, featuring a trumpet solo, utilizing the following instrumentation:
  
  
  • a. 5 saxophones, AATTB. Any/all woodwind doubling or soprano saxophone parts must be optional, and the chart must be playable without the doubles. Non-doubling parts must also be provided.
    
    
  • b. 4 trombones (3 tenor + 1 bass trombone). Tuba may be used in place of bass trombone, but the chart must be playable with bass trombone instead of tuba.
    
    
  • c. 4 Bb trumpets or flugelhorns. Common mutes (plunger, straight, cup, or harmon) are usable. The 1st trumpet range should go no higher than a written D above the staff to maximize playability for younger bands. The featured trumpet may either be fully within the 4th trumpet part, or as an additional soloist part (in which case there would be five total trumpet parts: 4 in the section + a solo part).
    
    
  • d. Rhythm section of piano, acoustic bass and drum set. An auxiliary percussion part and guitar part may also be possible but should be optional.
    
    
  • e. In addition to trumpet, other members of the jazz ensemble may also be given solos.
    
    
  • f. Although the trumpet is to be a primary soloist, the featured trumpet part/portions may be orchestrated to be in unison, harmony or counterpoint with other soloists or groups within in the ensemble. Creativity in this regard is encouraged.
    
    
  • g. Entrants must submit score and parts for full jazz ensemble.
    
    
• 2. No transcriptions or arrangements (except arrangements of the composer's own works) will be eligible. Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra's Board of Directors, Executive Director and Musical Director are not eligible to enter the contest.
  
  
• 3. The composition may already have been performed, but shall have been written in the past three years of the contest deadline and must be unpublished.
  
  
• 4. The purpose of the prize is to encourage the composition and performance of the highest possible quality of jazz ensemble literature written by women. Therefore, the composition should be conceived and constructed to ensure an effective performance by professional, university, and high school honors jazz ensembles. Pieces will be judged on (1) overall musical quality, (2) playability/appropriateness for high school, college-age and professional bands alike, and (3) proper/professional notation.
  
  
• 5. Entries shall be no longer than 10 minutes in length.
  
  
• 6. Compositions must be submitted with a full score, full set of parts, and compact disc recording. Compositions without recordings or complete parts will not be considered. Computer / MIDI recordings will be accepted, but a recording of a live reading/rehearsal or performance is preferred.
  
  
• 7. The submissions must be completely anonymous. Therefore, the composer's name must not appear on score, parts or CD, nor be audible on the enclosed CD (if the composer's name is announced at the recorded performance, that portion should be edited out). A sealed envelope containing the printed entry form (which contains the composer's name and contact information; see "How to enter the contest" below for the link to the online entry form) and a check or money order for $20 made out to "SWOJO" should be affixed by paper clip to the entry form in the inner envelope. The date of composition must appear on the title page. Entry fees will not be returned for any reason.
  
  
• 8. Composers may submit as many pieces as she like, but each piece must be submitted separately with a separate entry fee, printed entry form and outer/inner envelopes for each.
  
  
• 9. The winning compositions will be selected and the composer notified no later than July 31, 2013.
  
  
• 10. The winning composer will receive at least $300 and a concert recording of her piece with a special guest artist from SWOJO's performance as part of the 2013 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle, Washington. In the unlikely event that an unforeseen situation prevents the guest artist from performing, the piece will still be recorded, but with a different trumpet soloist. The winner is strongly encouraged to attend the performance. Travel is at the composer's own expense.
  
  
• 11. Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra will either publish the winning piece or secure another publishing company to publish the winning piece at SWOJO's sole discretion. The winning composer must provide print-ready parts in PDF form to SWOJO in order for us to publish the piece. The composer agrees that the piece shall bear the subtitle "Winner of the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra 2013 Composition Contest."
  
  
• 12. Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra has the option of withholding the award if no entries are found to be suitable.
  
  
• 13. The composer must permit Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra to keep their piece for consideration for future performance, recording, and publishing. If the composer wishes the CD returned, she must provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of her CD. All precautions will be taken to ensure that CDs are returned safely, but SWOJO cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage in transit (the winning piece will be kept by SWOJO regardless).
• 14. Composers should send their scores, parts, CDs and inner sealed envelopes containing the printed contest application and entry fee of $20 in the form of check or money order payable to SWOJO, Jazz Composition Contest, PO Box 12470, Seattle, WA 98111. All inquiries should be sent to the same address.
  
  
• 15. Composers must not attempt to contact any members of the Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra, SWOJO Board of Directors or judges to exert influence over the outcome of the contest. Any attempt to do so will immediately disqualify the composer and all her submissions from the contest.