143K

For Immediate Release

The Contemporary Music Centre Announces Composer Competition

7 January 2011

The Contemporary Music Centre in partnership with The West Cork Chamber Music Festival announces details of a Composer Competition for Irish Composers for The West Cork Chamber Music Festival 2011.

The Contemporary Music Centre is delighted to partner with The West Cork Chamber Music Festival for this Composer Competition in 2011. It reflects the commitment of the Centre and of the festival to nurture the creation and performance of new Irish music. This year the competition is also kindly supported by IMRO.

Three works will be selected. The composer of each selected work will receive a prize of €500 and will be asked to attend a workshop at the Festival on Sunday 26 June 2011 where the piece will be played through by a group on the Festival's masterclass programme. This will be followed by an informal public workshop between composer and performers led by Festival Composer-in-Residence, Brett Dean. The premieres will take place during the Festival in the Town Concert series on 29 and 30 June and 1 July.

"This is an unparalleled opportunity for Irish composers and we are honored to collaborate with the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in the creation of this competition. The West Cork Chamber Music Festival is a world class festival with a world class programme, a real gem in the musical life of Ireland" says Evonne Ferguson, Director, The Contemporary Music Centre.

The aim of the competition is to give aspiring Irish composers a platform for their work to be evaluated and performed in front of an audience. Entrants must be of Irish nationality, born in Northern Ireland or resident on the island of Ireland and must be under the age of 30 on 1 January 2011. Works submitted must be for string quartet (violin, violin, viola, cello) or piano trio (violin, cello, piano) of between 5-8 minutes duration. Submissions are to be sent to the Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble St, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Scores must be received by 31 March 2011. Selected compositions will be announced on www.cmc.ie and www.westcorkmusic.ie by 15 April 2011.

West Cork Music was established in 1995 and has grown from a small voluntary organisation to a company that is dedicated to bringing the highest calibre of musical experience to Ireland. West Cork Music promotes the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, which has become one of the leading chamber music events in Europe. It also organises the West Cork Literary Festival, Masters of Tradition and a year-round concert series. Its activities also range from music education schemes with school children throughout County Cork to commissioning new works from Ireland's leading composers.
www.westcorkmusic.ie

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national archive and resource centre for new music, supporting and developing the work of composers throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. It is used on a national and international basis by performers, composers, promoters and members of the public interested in finding out more about music in Ireland. For further information on the Centre and this competition contact Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Tel : 016731922 Email: khennessy@cmc.ie

Notes for Editors

Details of rules and conditions.

• Entrants must be of Irish nationality, born in Northern Ireland or resident on the island of Ireland.
• Entrants must be under the age of 30 on 1st January 2011.
• Entrants may submit only one work.
• Entrants should state date of birth and give full contact details including postal address.
• Prize-winners and entrants from previous competitions run by West Cork Music are welcome to submit new scores.
• Works must be between 5 and 8 minutes in length and may not involve any form of electronics or pre-recorded sounds.
• Works may not have been performed in concert before a ticket-buying public audience prior to the Festival.
• Scores must be received by 31 March 2011. Scores can be submitted electronically. It is recommended but not compulsory for a midi realisation or other audio mock-up to be submitted with scores.
• Compositions will be assessed by an adjudicator chosen by West Cork Music.
• Works will be assessed anonymously, please do not mark or sign scores or CDs.
• Selected compositions will be announced by 15th April 2011. Selected composers will be notified by email.
• Winning entrants must submit instrumental parts by 1st May 2011. CMC operate a grant scheme to assist with copying costs. See www.cmc.ie. All copying costs are the responsibility of entrants.
• There will be three selected compositions. The composer of each selected composition will be awarded a prize of €500. West Cork Music reserves the right not to award prizes.
• It is a condition of entry that composers agree to attend the workshop in Bantry on Sunday 26 June 2011 at 2pm. Prizes will be withheld in the event of non-attendance. All expenses incurred in attendance are the responsibility of the winning composers.
• West Cork Music reserves the right to alter dates and times of the workshop and subsequent performances.
• Address for submission: Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble St, Temple Bar, Dublin 8
• Any questions please contact: Christopher Marwood cm@vanbrughquartet.com.