The Manhattan Choral Ensemble seeks proposals from composers living within 50 miles of New York City for a short work for SATB chorus that evokes life in New York City. Proposals are due by Sunday, September 15, 2024.
The proposed work should meet the following criteria:
- Length of between two and three minutes
- A cappella for SATB chorus (no additional instruments, minimal divisi)
- Of moderate difficulty, learnable by the MCE in three hours of rehearsal
- Connected in some way to life in New York City
Past entries in this series have been connected to New York City in various ways, including:
- A setting of a poem about New York City or reflective of New York City
- A setting of a poem by a poet strongly associated with New York City
- A wordless tone poem evoking an image of New York City
- A setting of an original poem or a newly written poem connected in some way to New York City
A proposal should include the following:
- A textual description of the proposed piece of approximately 400 words
- A proposed text for the piece (if the proposed piece will have a text)
- Two example pieces written by the composer that are in a similar style to the proposed piece
- A short biography of the composer
A proposal SHOULD NOT include the completed piece. The Manhattan Choral Ensemble will choose composers from those proposals received and commission them to compose the proposed pieces.
We welcome texts written by living writers. It is the responsibility of the composer to secure permission to use any texts not in the public domain.
Previous winners are ineligible. Only one proposal per composer. Proposals are due by Sunday, September 15th, 2024.
Three composers will be chosen by a committee comprising MCE Director Thomas Cunningham and Artistic Advisors, George Andoniadis and Rich Campbell. Each selected composer will receive a $750 commissioning fee and a performance by the Manhattan Choral Ensemble at its concert on March 8th, 2025, at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music in Manhattan. Completed works will be due to the MCE by December 15th, 2024. Prior to the March performance, the composers will be asked to attend a rehearsal to discuss their piece with the choir.
Additionally, one work will be voted on by the audience for an additional award on the night of the performance. The composer of the chosen work will receive an additional $750.
Electronic proposals are acceptable. There is no fee to apply. Submissions should be emailed to info@mce.nyc or (if not possible to send electronically) mailed to:
Manhattan Choral Ensemble
PO Box 3852
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163-3852
