International Federation for Choral Music

Please note that the competition rules have been changed after publication of the rules in the January issue of ICB and on Social Media - the version below is the correct and legally binding one, with the changed article 9.

Notification and Regulation

1. The International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) announces the ‘Fourth International Competition for Choral Composition’, the chief aim of which is to promote the creation and wide distribution of new and innovative choral repertoire.
   
   
2. Participation is open to composers of any nationality or age.
   
   
3. The Competition is dedicated to choral compositions a cappella (SATB or divided into as many as eight parts, SSAATTBB) with a maximum duration of 5 minutes, specifically for medium to advanced choirs. The text of the composition - in any language, sacred or secular, written for the occasion or pre-existing - should be available in the public domain. If not, permission must be obtained in writing from the author or copyright holder of the text and must be enclosed with the entry form.
   
   
4. There is a 25 USD entry fee payable at the time of submission for each entry.
   
   
5. Up to two works per composer may be submitted. Scores must be sent electronically, either in PDF format made from Sibelius or Finale files or in a similar program. Midi files, tapes or CDs may not be submitted. The composer’s name must not appear anywhere on any score. The IFCM Competition Office will receive all works which will then be sent to jury members. No composer’s identity will be divulged to the jury before or during judging. The jury’s decision will be announced in the ICB and on the IFCM website. Each participant must include a document (.doc or .PDF file) with full address, contact details, and title of the composition submitted. This document must also contain a written, signed statement by the composer declaring that any score submitted is unpublished and has never been awarded a prize in any previous contest. Entries must arrive by entry form no later than the 30th of September 2019. Works cannot be revised after submission. Application form at: https://goo.gl/TyzSUg
   
   
6. The competition will be judged by a five-member jury consisting of international choral conductors and composers. The jury’s decision is final.
   
   
7. Strong consideration will be given to a work’s potential for performance and for the prospect of repeated performances by a medium to advanced SATB (SSAATTBB) choir possessing the appropriate vocal requirements. The winning work must demonstrate excellence in compositional craft, imagination, ‘sing-ability’ (given reasonable rehearsal time), idiomatic effectiveness and, most importantly, a fresh approach to choral writing.
   
   
8. The winning works will receive the following:
   First Prize: 1,000 USD, IFCM Awards Certificate and plaque
   Second Prize: 500 USD, IFCM Awards Certificate and plaque
   Third Prize: 300 USD, IFCM Awards Certificate and plaque
   The first winning composition will be performed by one of the presenting choirs at the WSCM (World Symposium of Choral Music) in Auckland, 2020. In consultation with the composers, the three winners will be featured in the International Choral Bulletin where an interview with the composers and the entire scores will be published in print and online. The three winning composers will receive a 20% discount in participation fees at WSCM activities.
   
   
9. Compositions submitted to the competition shall be deemed the Intellectual Property of the submitting composer and any rights relating to this shall remain with the composer. The winner of the competition shall grant IFCM the right to premiere the winning piece within 12 months of announcement of the winners. No public performance shall be allowed prior to the premiere performance by IFCM without consent of IFCM. Should IFCM be prevented from giving the premiere within this time frame, the composer shall be free to have the composition premiered elsewhere.
   IFCM shall not have to pay any additional fee to the composer for any audio and/or audivisual recordings of the performance.
   If the winning composer is not subject to a contract binding him/her to a specific publishing house, IFCM may publish parts of the score in the International Choral Bulletin without renumeration to the composer. Publication of the full score shall only be possible with the explicit consent of the composer. In this case IFCM shall also support the composer in finding a publishing house for full publication.
   All winning works should be marked, whenever possible, as "one of the winning entries of the IFCM Fourth International Competition for Choral Composition" on the music score cover or in the concert programme.
   
   
10. Participation in the competition implies full knowledge and acceptance of these regulations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Andrea Angelini, ICB Managing Editor & Director of the Competition
Email: aangelini@ifcm.net

Edited by Jonathan Aaron Baudhuin, Germany