2017 UPO Composition Contest

I. Purpose
To celebrate the talent of young composers, to engage them to create fresh, new musical works for orchestra, and to encourage young
people to enjoy the art of music composition.

II. Divisions
There will be two divisions, resulting in two winners of the contest:
Senior Division over 18 to 35 years of age
Junior Division 18 or under

III. Eligibility
Composers must be residents or full-time students in the State of Illinois.

IV. Submissions
a. Other than the entry form, all musical submissions must be submitted electronically.
No musical hard copies will be accepted.
b. Each participating composer may enter only one musical work for consideration.
1. The work must be a new composition never before performed in public for an audience by another orchestra.
2. The work music be wholly the effort and output of the applicant; no copyrighted music or motifs may be
quoted.
3. The work must use the appropriate instrumentation (see section VII), and be playable by a live orchestra.
4. The work must be no longer than ten minutes in length.
c. For each entry:
1. Email a PDF of the score and MP3 file recording to stephen@urbanapops.org
2. Mail or email a completed and signed entry form to Urbana Pops Orchestra (see section IV-F, below)
d. Each entry must be received on or before Friday, March 31, 2017.
e. All materials submitted will be kept by the Urbana Pops Orchestra, and will not be returned.
f. Mail completed and signed entry form to: OR scan and email to:
Urbana Pops Orchestra stephen@urbanapops.org
Composition Contest
207 West California
Urbana, IL 61801

V. Musical scores
a. The musical score should be a high-resolution scanned handwritten score or electronically generated PDF file.
b. If handwritten, the music must be clearly notated.
c. If computer typeset (with Finale or MuseScore, for example), the music must be printed 4-8 measures to a page.
d. All measures in the score must be numbered.
e. As all scores are judged anonymously, the scores should NOT bear the name of the composer.
VI. Audio recording
The audio recording should be in MP3 format suitable for email. This may be a live performance, although electronic MIDI
renderings (Finale or Sibelius playback, for example) are acceptable.

VII. Instrumentation
As this contest is sponsored by an orchestra, composers are encouraged to write their composition for the orchestral forces not
exceeding the instrumentation for the full pops orchestra listed below (instrument doubles in parentheses):
Flute 1-2 Timpani (4 drums)
Flute 3 (Piccolo) Mallet percussion (Glockenspiel, Xylophone,
Oboe 1-2 Vibraphone, Marimba, Chimes)
Oboe 3 (English Horn) Percussion 1 (Cymbals, snare drum, bass drum)
Clarinet in B-flat 1-2 Percussion 2 (auxiliary)
Clarinet 3 in B-flat (Bass Clarinet) Harp
Bassoon 1-2 Piano (Celesta)
Bassoon 3 Violin 1
Horn in F 1-2 Violin 2
Horn in F 3-4 Viola
Trumpet in B-flat 1 Violoncello
Trumpet in B-flat 2-3 Contrabass
Trombone 1-2
Bass Trombone
Tuba

VIII. Judging
Each entry will be judged by a panel of experienced composers in the musical and educational field.

IX. Results
a. All entrants will be notified by email regarding the results of the competition.
b. The winning entries in both divisions will be considered for performance by the Urbana Pops Orchestra at the June 10 or
July 15, 2017 concert.
c. All entrants will receive written comments from the judging team
d. Winning entrants will be invited to be guests at one of UPOs June 10 or July 15, 2017 concerts, though transportation,
lodging, or other expenses will be the responsibility of the entrants.
e. Winning compositions which are selected for performance will be required to supply orchestral parts.
f. Composers of winning compositions will be required to grant a gratis non-exclusive performance, recording, and
synchronization rights to the Urbana Pops Orchestra.
g. Winning composers will be notified of subsequent performances.

Questions may be directed to

Stephen Larson, associate conductor
stephen@urbanapops.org
X. Entry form
Mail this completed entry form to OR scan and email (with the entry) to
Urbana Pops Orchestra stephen@urbanapops.org
Composition Contest
207 West California
Urbana, IL 61801

Name Date of birth

Address

Email Phone

Division (circle one) Senior Junior

Title of Work

I, the undersigned, have read and hereby acknowledge and accept the Rules and Regulations indicated in the Urbana Pops
Orchestra Composition Contest Instructions. I agree to these rules and by all policies that have been adopted or that may be
adopted in the future by UPO for this event. I understand that UPO has sole discretion to make all decisions regarding the UPO
Composition Contest.

__________________________________________________________________________ __________________
Signature Date

_________________________________________________________________________ __________________
Parent/guardian signature Date
(if under 18 only)