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National Association of Composers / USA (NACUSA) 40th Annual Young Composers’ Competition (December 15)
National Association of Composers / USA
(NACUSA) 40th Annual Young Composers’ Competition
Deadline: December 15, 2018 http://nacusa.us
All entrants must be NACUSA members. Music by non-members will not be considered.
Previous First Prize winners will not be eligible.
All previous winners are listed on the NACUSA website address above.
1. The competition is open to all NACUSA members who are American citizens or
residents, who have reached their 18th birthday but have not yet reached their 32nd birthday by the
submission deadline.
2. Compositions submitted should not exceed 10 – 12 minutes in length.
3. This year composers can submit works in the following categories: A. Brass Quintet B. Any solo
acoustic instrument (except percussion, harp and celesta) C. 1-3 instruments with optional
electronics/playback. If percussion is used, it should involve only one performer. No harp or celesta
is permitted. Different categories will fluctuate over the course of future NACUSA competitions.
4. Compositions submitted must not be published and must not have won any other
competitions. Each composer may submit up to two works.
5. Recordings (mp3 format) of the entire composition are highly recommended, but not mandatory.
6. Compositions will be judged, in part, on legibility and clearness of music score.
7. All scores must be submitted anonymously under clear pseudonym in PDF format, using NACUSA
website (see the guideline under NACUSA 2018 Composition Contest). All mp3 files must also be
submitted anonymously, using the same pseudonym. Scores that do not adhere to the Contest rules
will be disqualified.
8. The winners will be announced by February 1, 2019.
9. All prizes come with a possible performance during a NACUSA National Conference or during the
Contemporary Music Festival Musica Moderna in Lodz, Poland.
First Prize is $500, Second Prize is $400, Third Prize is $300.
10. Questions regarding the Contest can be sent to Dr. Wieslaw Rentowski, NACUSA 2018 Young
Composers’ Competition Coordinator (NACUSA Vice President and Texas Chapter President) at
rentows@aol.com