American Guild of Organists 2008 Organ Spectacular

I was recently contacted by Dr. Larry Schou of the University of South Dakota regarding an upcoming competition being sponsored by the American Guild of Organists. The first prize is pretty sweet: a performance, publication and $1,500.

Full information is enclosed below in case any of you fancy entering.

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American Guild of Organists

2008 Organ Spectacular

ORGAN AND C INSTRUMENT

COMPOSITION COMPETITION

Instructions for Competitors

Composers are invited to submit a work for organ and C instrument, no longer than 5 minutes in duration. Musical form may be determined by the composer and should show the composer’s ability to write idiomatically for the instruments.

-Compositions must be written for organ and one C instrument; difficulty level should be easy to moderate.

- Composers of any age are eligible.

· Entry is limited to one unpublished composition per composer.

- The composer will be responsible for obtaining permission to use any copyrighted material.

· Total performance time shall be no longer than 5 minutes in duration, and must be printed under the title of the piece.

· The submitted manuscript must be of professional quality and legibility.

· DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ANY DEDICATIONS ON THE MANUSCRIPT ITSELF. The composition will be coded for identification by the staff of the AGO.

· Four (4) copies of the work must be submitted with the completed and signed entry form.

· Compositions and entry forms must be postmarked by September 1, 2007.

· Each composition will be judged by a panel of three distinguished musicians. If, in the opinion of the jury, no composition merits an award of this stature, no award will be made. Anonymity of the entrants will be maintained throughout the competition.

· Winners will be notified by December 1, 2007. Hinkle Prizes: 1st prize ($1500), 2nd prize ($750), and 3rd prize ($500).

· Arrangements for publication of the winning composition will be made between the composer and Concordia Publishing. The composer of the winning pieces must agree to supply the American Guild of Organists with an mp3 file of the organ and instruments piece and a copy of the composition for use on BinAural Collaboraborative Hypertext (B.A.C.H.) site at bach.nau.edu website. Winners are required to contact Tim Smith at Northern Arizona University to discuss the details for submission to the B.A.C.H. site. Concordia Publishing must also be granted rights by the composer of the winning piece for the work to be placed on its website.

· One copy of each entry will be retained at national American Guild of Organists headquarters for archival purposes, and others will be destroyed.

- Composers unfamiliar with the organ may wish to purchase Sandra Soderlund’s pamphlet A Guide to the Pipe Organ for Composers and Others available from the AGO bookstore.


FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
CODE ASSIGNED:

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS

2008 0RGAN SPECTACUALR

ORGAN AND C INSTRUMENT COMPOSITION COMPETITION

E N T R Y F O R M
(attach to submitted composition)

NAME __________________________________________________ ____________

ADDRESS __________________________________________________ _________

CITY ________________________________STATE ____________ ZIP _________

TELEPHONE (home) ____________________________(work) _________________

E-MAIL __________________________



TITLE OF COMPOSITION _____________________________________________

APPROXIMATE DURATION (no longer than 5 minutes) __________

I certify that the composition submitted with this form is original, that it has not been published in any form, and is not under contract for publication. The information above is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. The composition identified above is hereby submitted for consideration by the judges for the 2008 ORGAN SPECTACULAR Composition Competition. I understand that should it win, the composition will be performed at the October 19, 2008 organ concerts held in AGO chapters.

SIGNATURE DATE _______________


ATTACH FOUR (4) PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED COPIES OF THE WORK AND MAIL TO:

2008 Organ Spectacular Composition Competition

American Guild of Organists

475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260

New York, NY10115

Please note: DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ANY DEDICATIONS ON THE MANUSCRIPT ITSELF. One copy of your composition will be retained by the American Guild of Organists for archival purposes. The remaining copies will be destroyed. Please retain a copy of this form and your original score for your records. Submissions must be postmarked by September 1, 2007.


THE AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS
ANNOUNCES THE
2008 ORGAN SPECTACULAR
ORGAN AND C INSTRUMENT COMPOSITION COMPETITION


AWARDS: - Hinkle Prizes: 1st prize ($1500), 2nd prize ($750), and
3rd prize ($500). Winners will be notified by December 1, 2007.
- Performance of the 1st prize composition at the AGO 2008 ORGAN SPECTACULAR event held on October, 19, 2008.
- Publication of winning composition by Concordia Publishing
- Analysis of winning composition will be made available on
BinAural Collaboraborative Hypertext (B.A.C.H.) site at bach.nau.eduwebsite. Winners are required to contact Tim Smith at NorthernArizonaUniversity to discuss the details for submission to the B.A.C.H. site. Concordia Publishing will also make portions of the composition available on its website.

COMPOSITION: Composers are invited to submit a work for organ and C instrument, no longer than 5 minutes in duration. The composer may determine the form of the work and should show the composer’s ability to write idiomatically for the instrument. It is our hope that the awarded composition will be a worthy addition to the repertoire.

ELIGIBILITY: A composer of any age may submit one unpublished work along with the proper entry form.

JUDGES: Each composition will be judged by a panel of three distinguished musicians. If, in the opinion of the jury, no composition merits a prize of this stature, no award will be made. Anonymity of the entrants will be maintained throughout the competition.

DEADLINE: Compositions and entry forms must be postmarked by September 1, 2007.

APPLICATION: For an entry form and detailed instructions, write or e-mail:

2008 Organ Spectacular Composition Competition
American Guild of Organists
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260
New York, NY 10115
212-870-2310
Fax: 212-870-2163
E-mail: info@agohq.org

I can't wait to get started.

So can the C instrument be another organ?