205K

For Immediate Release

The Contemporary Music Centre announces Composer Competition for West Cork Chamber Music Festival 2012

12 January 2012

The West Cork Chamber Music Festival in partnership with the Contemporary Music Centre announces details of a Composer Competition for Irish Composers at the 2012 West Cork Chamber Music Festival.

The West Cork Chamber Music Festival is delighted to partner with the Contemporary Music Centre for this Composer Competition in 2012. It reflects the commitment of the Festival and the Centre to nurture the creation and performance of new Irish music. This year the competition is once again kindly supported by the Irish Music Rights Organisation, IMRO.

West Cork Music invites Irish composers under 30 years of age on 1 January 2012 to submit works for string quartet (violin, violin, viola, cello) or piano trio (violin, cello, piano) of between 5-8 minutes duration for workshopping and performance at the 2012 West Cork Chamber Music Festival.

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 Saturday 30 June 2012 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, Thomas Larcher. The premieres will take place during the Festival in the Town Concert series on 1, 5 and 6 July.

"This is an unparalleled opportunity for Irish composers and we are honoured 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 2012. Submissions are to be sent to the Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble St, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Scores must be received by 31 March 2012. Selected compositions will be announced on www.cmc.ie and www.westcorkmusic.ie by 15 April 2012.

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. For further information on the Centre contact Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Tel: 01 673 1922 Email: khennessy@cmc.ie
web site: www.cmc.ie

Notes for Editors

• 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 1 January 2012.
• 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 2012. 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 on www.westcorkmusic.ie by 15 April 2012. Selected composers will be notified by email.
• Winning entrants must submit instrumental parts by 1 May 2012. 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 Saturday 30 June 2012 at 14.00. Prizes will be with-held 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: The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Email: info@cmc.ie. Any questions relating to the competition please contact: Christopher Marwood on email: cm@vanbrughquartet.com.