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New Music on the Bayou 2023
Call for Scores

The 7th New Music on the Bayou Festival will take place on May 31-June 3, 2023 in Ruston and Monroe, Louisiana.

The submission period is from December 11, 2022 to February 19, 2023.

Notifications of acceptance will be made on March 21, 2023.


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CLICK HERE FOR THE 2023 SUBMISSION FORM


CLICK HERE FOR THE 2023 TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION 

(For scholarship eligibility and guidelines, see here.)

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SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

Live Performers
Duo Per Se (piano and clarinet)

Trio Mélange (soprano, horn, and piano)
Delamo Duo (single reeds and keyboard percussion)
NMB Percussion Group (up to 6)
Solo or Mixed Ensemble (performers provided)

  • flute (2)

  • oboe

  • bassoon

  • all clarinets/saxophones (2)

  • trumpet (2)

  • horn

  • trombone

  • tuba

  • piano

  • soprano (2) 

  • mezzo-soprano

  • percussion (6)

  • violin (2)

  • viola

  • cello

  • bass


Digital Media

  • Digital Media - two-channel with or without video; with or without live performers

  • Live Improvisatory Self-Performed - acoustic, electronic, or combined allowed; maximum performers: 3 (composer must be a performer)

  • Installation Works - Self-contained works of sound art, sound sculptures, sonic multimedia, or related works; these works can be continuous, looping, interactive, etc., but should not be site-specific and should be suitable for exhibition in both galleries and non-traditional exhibition spaces.


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Digital Media Guidelines

  • New Music on the Bayou can provide two-channel playback and video playback; composers are responsible for providing all other technical requirements/needs. Feel free to contact us about the possibility of our assistance in meeting additional requirements.

  • For works without a score, a recording must be submitted.

  • For Live Improvisation works, a written explanation of the improvisation path (one-page maximum uploaded under program notes) as well as a recording of the work (or a recording of a previous work using a similar process) must be submitted.

  • For Installation works, a project description (one-page maximum uploaded under program notes) and any other applicable supporting documentation must be submitted.

  • For all Digital works, a document listing all technical requirements must be submitted.

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Additional Guidelines​​

  • All composers must be present at the festival in person or virtually(if selected for one of the four virtual spots available) to have their piece performed.*

  • Pieces of any length are eligible, but priority will be given to pieces under 15 minutes.

  • Works composed within the previous five years are encouraged.

  • Composers must be able to provide computer-generated parts for performers as PDF files.
    All submitted scores should be transposing scores if transposing instruments are used.

  • For purposes of impartiality during the judging process for the Black Bayou Composition Award,
    composers’ names must be removed from the score when submitted.

  • On the application form, you will be required to submit a score and you have the option of submitting a link to a recording (live or electronically generated); to be included in the adjudication process for the Black Bayou Composition Award, the recording must also be anonymous, i.e. no names in the file or on profiles such as SoundCloud in which the composer could be identified.

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*As the goal of NMB is to connect our local community with festival artists and ideas, attendance is required of composers. Because of our desire to expand the opportunities to our community and the composition community, we have created 4 slots for virtual participation. These four slots are open to all applicants with preference given to international applications and others with a large travel distance. Virtual participants will be required to connect virtually with performers during the rehearsal phase of their work, attend all available NMB online concerts, and give a short presentation in real time or with prerecorded video.


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COVID-19 Protocols

Given the continuation of the COVID pandemic, we intend to monitor the health environment and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the NMB Festival is a safe environment for all in-person attendees. As always, we will follow all guidance given by the CDC, the state of Louisiana, and our universities.

 

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Black Bayou Composition Award
The Black Bayou Composition Award will be presented to the piece “that best reflects the connection between music and nature.” This award is sponsored in part by Friends of Black Bayou, and will be adjudicated by composers and performers outside of the NMB Festival staff. The winner will receive $500 and a commission for next year's festival. Two runners-up will receive $100 each.

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Travel and Lodging
The primary goal of the NMB Festival is to bring new music from composers around the world to members of our communities and to engage in a dialogue about the future of new music. We will publish a travel guide that includes hotel(s) with a special rate and a transportation schedule for the Festival shuttle. Lyft, Uber, and Ez-Rydr are available options.

 

Travel Scholarships

We now have two travel scholarships of $1000 each available to encourage a broad spectrum of diversity at the festival. The scholarship application is submitted separately. These scholarships are meant to bolster participation in our festival by underrepresented communities, whether defined by gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or other. One of the two scholarships is specifically designated for a Black composer to address historical and systemic racial inequality in the field of American composition. This scholarship was approved in June 2020. Our Statement on Equality can be found here.

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Media
Professional audio recordings will be provided at no charge to composers after the festival. New Music on the Bayou reserves the right to use recordings and images from the festival on our website and promotional materials.

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