2025 Contest Theme: Let the Earth Sing!

Theme - Earth Day
Deadline for submissions - December 31, 2024
Eligibility - Residents of the United States may enter the competition
Prize - $1000

Text - This year the composer will choose one of two poems provided by HMC as the text of their compositions (poems are available Here). These poems were the winning entries of a recent Huntsville Master Chorale and Huntsville-Madison County Public Library poetry contest for High School students.

Evaluation - The winning composition will be selected by a panel of guest judges, members of the Huntsville Master Chorale and the Chorale’s Artistic Director. This evaluation will consider the quality of the piece and its suitability for a successful performance by the choir and will include these factors:

• Level - The winning composition will be performed by a volunteer adult choir of 40 voices that practices about 2 hours once a week, so excessive difficulty and extensive divisi are discouraged.

• Original Works - Entries must be original compositions (no arrangements of works by other composers).

• Voicing - Voicing should be SATB. Moderate tessitura and harmonic language should be used for all parts (Sopranos C4-G5, Altos G3-D5, Tenors C3-F4, Basses G2-D4).  Some divisi will be allowed. Due to the intention of performing the winning work, these criteria will be very important in the judging process.

• Accompaniment and Length - Compositions may be A cappella or accompanied by piano, or piano with an additional instrument, and should be at least 3 minutes but not more than 10 minutes in length.

• Appearance - Works will be judged in part on readability. 

Announcement of Winner - The winning piece and composer will be announced by email and social media platforms by January 15, 2025. The decision of the judging is final. Should the compositions submitted not meet the standards set forth, the Huntsville Master Chorale reserves the right to withhold the award.

Copyrights - The Huntsville Master Chorale shall retain unlimited performance and mechanical rights to performances and recordings made by the Huntsville Master Chorale. The composer shall retain all other copy, performance, and mechanical rights to their works.

Award - $1000

Submission Details

• Entries must be original compositions (no arrangements of works by other composers).

• Compositions do not need to be newly created; however, all submissions must not have been previously adjudicated or performed in public.

• The winning entry will be premiered during the Huntsville Master Chorale performances of Let the Earth Sing on April 25 and 27, 2025, conducted by Dr. Patricia Ramirez Hacker.

• Electronic submissions (PDF) are required. Audio files in MP3 format are strongly encouraged.

• Submissions must be supplied as PDF of an 8.5x11-inch choral score. Composers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the score preparation guidelines of the American Composers Alliance, available at https://composers.com/page/score-preparation-guidelines online.

• Please remove all identifying marks from submitted scores as the judging will be conducted anonymously.

• The names of all participants will be held in confidence during the adjudication.

• A completed copy of the form below must accompany each submission.

• No more than two compositions will be accepted from a single composer.

Submissions should be sent to hsvmasterchorale@gmail.com

DEADLINE - Submissions will be received through December 31, 2024.