Call for Scores
The application deadline for the 2025 Call for Scores has passed. Look for an announcement of the winner in early March and plan to attend the CIMF Artist Concert on Thursday, July 31, 2025 when the winning composer’s piece will be performed.
CIMF's Call for Scores!
The Charles Ives Music Festival (CIMF) announces a Call for Scores. Based in northern Fairfield county – the home of Charles Ives – CIMF regularly features dynamic and unique emerging artists performing the music of Charles Ives, the music of 20th and 21st-century American composers, and music that transcends the traditional boundaries of classical music to incorporate other styles of music.
We are seeking recent works composed by composers of any age and at the early or emerging stages of their careers for all or any subset of the following: 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, piano, and harp.
One work will be chosen to be performed during the Charles Ives Music Festival in concert on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Pieces are performed by guest artists and artist-faculty from leading American orchestras and chamber ensembles including the MET Opera Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Carpe Diem String Quartet. Read about the artists here. The selected composer is invited to the concert to hear his or her work performed, will receive an archival recording, and if possible, may be invited to give a forum to festival composers.
Submissions will be selected by a panel consisting of CIMF Artistic Director and composer Paul Frucht, CIMF Composition Program Director and composer Jon Cziner, and CIMF Artist-Faculty.
Additionally, we will award at least one honorable mention/runner-up, and works not chosen for this particular performance will be kept in mind for future performances.
Eligibility
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Any composer residing within the United States, or an American citizen residing abroad, is eligible regardless of age, sex, color, creed, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or veteran status.
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Pieces should be no longer than 10 minutes in duration and must be composed for any combination of 2 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, piano, and harp.
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Works with either a prior performance or no prior performance are eligible.
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Composers may submit as many pieces as they wish for consideration (payment details below)
Application Process
1. All submissions must be sent to CIMFCallforscores@gmail.com
2. The subject of your email should read “Your name – Charles Ives Music Festival Call for Scores Submission 2025”
3. Please include the following information in your email:
• Full name
• Cell phone number
• PDF of your score
• PDF of a bio and/or resume (two pages maximum)
• A link/file of an audio or video recording of your work. While live recordings are preferred, MIDI recordings are accepted.
4. To complete your submission, please pay the application fee of $20 for every submitted piece through PayPal. Click the PayPal link below to pay the fee.
Please note that we require an application fee to provide for administrative overhead and judging of this competition.
Timeline
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All emailed submissions must be received by Monday, February 3, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
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All application fees must be received by Monday, February 3, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
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The selected composer will be notified by Monday, March 3, 2025. All entrants will be notified of the results of the competition shortly thereafter.
The Winning Composer Will:
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Be required to provide PDF parts and score to CIMF by May 1, 2025
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Not be required to attend the performance, but is welcome to do so. Funding for local travel (i.e. from NYC) is available. The winning composer may also be invited to present their music to CIMF student composers (for an additional fee).
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Have their work performed by CIMF Artist-Faculty on a CIMF Artist Concert during our Summer 2025 Festival.
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Receive an archival recording of the performance.
