Finding a Voice and the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland are delighted to announce details of the seventh annual Composition Competition for Emerging Women Composers in Ireland.
With the ongoing generous support of the Contemporary Music Centre, the composition competition will include a workshop for shortlisted candidates as well as composition mentorship from composer Siobhán Cleary during the process, offering a unique opportunity for professional development for both winning and shortlisted composers. This year’s workshop will be with celebrated Irish musicians William Dowdall (flute) and Sylvia O’Brien (soprano) and the winning composition will be premiered at Finding a Voice which will take place from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th of March 2024 in Clonmel,Co. Tipperary.
From the initial submissions, composers will be shortlisted for a workshop with William Dowdall (flute) and Sylvia O’Brien (soprano), taking place the second week of January and hosted by the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland. Following the workshop, the successful composition will be selected by composer Siobhán Cleary and will be premiered by Evlana at an evening concert on Saturday 9th March 2024. This concert will also include the world première of a new commission for the ensemble by Judith Ring, alongside works by Siobhán Cleary, Gemma Peacock, Elaine Agnew, Lili Boulanger, Rebecca Clarke and Joan Trimble.
Artistic Director of Finding a Voice, Róisín Maher says: “We are really delighted to be able to partner with the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland for the fifth year in a row to offer shortlisted composers a workshop with William Dowdall and Sylvia O’Brien. They are two exceptional and experienced performers, and this represents a tremendous opportunity for an emerging composer to work with them on developing a composition for flute and voice. The workshops have been a really successful addition to the competition in recent years and the feedback from shortlisted composers has been incredibly positive about the benefit of taking part. In 2024, shortlisted composers will also have the additional benefit of composition mentorship from composer Siobhán Cleary during the process which offers even more opportunity for professional development. Every year we have had an increased number of entries for this competition, and I can’t wait to see and hear what interesting new compositional voices emerge in 2024.”
What we ask of applicants:
- Be an emerging woman or gender minority composer
- Be born on or currently resident on the island of Ireland
Application process – please include the following:
- One piece that is reflective of your work which will be used for the adjudication process. Send your score as a PDF, with an MP3 or electronic mock-up if you have one
- A short statement (max. 200 words) outlining your ideas for a composition for flute and voice on the theme of either ‘water’ or ‘magic’ for Finding a Voice 2024 and explaining how you would benefit artistically from the process
- Your name, contact details and an up-to-date CV
Please note that previous winners of the competition are ineligible although previous applicants are welcome to apply.
All applicants will receive equal opportunity irrespective of civil status, family status, sexualorientation, religion, age, disability, race, ethnicity or indigenous status.
Submissions should be sent to: director@findingavoice.ie
Deadline for submission is Tuesday 2nd January 2024 by 5pm.
Finding a Voice 2024 will take place from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th March 2024 in Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, and will feature performances by Evlana, Musici Ireland, Duo Anima, Amerghín, singer Kelley Petcu, and many more.
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