The 2016 ALEA III International Composition Competition is announced in conjunction with the 2016 Naxos Bassoon Days seminar and the 2016 ALEA III Summer Meetings. The purpose of the prize is the creation and/or promotion of works for one or multiple bassoons by young professional composers of all nationalities under 40 years old. Several prizes will be awarded.

Categories . The 2016 prizes and the judges . Competition Guidelines . Application Form

Categories 

1. Works for 2-10 bassoons. 

In addition to the bassoons up to 3 performers may be added; all of the following are accepted:

• Performers of any orchestral instrument and/or one voice.
• Performers of rare, unusual, folk, traditional or non-western instruments. If such a work is chosen for performance, the composer may have to provide musicians for the unusual instruments.
• Tape and/or live electronics. If such a work is chosen for performance, the composer may have to provide equipment. The sound engineer in control of equipment is not considered to be one of the 3 additional performers.
• Any combination of the above.

2. Chamber music works up to a total of 4 live performers, where the bassoon plays a primary role.

All of the following are accepted:

• Solo bassoon works.
• Works for one bassoon plus any orchestral instrument(s) and/or one voice.
• Works for one bassoon plus rare, unusual, folk, traditional or non-western instruments. If such a work is chosen for performance, the composer may have to provide musicians for the unusual instruments.
• Works for one bassoon plus tape and/or live electronics. If such a work is chosen for performance, the composer may have to provide equipment. The sound engineer in control of equipment is not considered to be one of the 3 additional performers.
• Any combination of the above.

The 2016 prizes and the judges 

For 2016 the following prizes will be awarded:

1. Three (in total) monetary prizes as follows:

• Two First Prizes (one in each category) of $800.00 each.
• A third piece from either category will be selected to receive a Second Prize of $400.00.

The judges will be Magnus Nilsson, Janet Underhill and Vassilis Priovolos (faculty members of the 2016 Naxos Bassoon Days seminar) plus 3-5 composers, faculty members of Boston University, New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.

2. Several pieces will be read, rehearsed and, if possible, performed during the 2016 Naxos Bassoon Days seminar. The faculty of the seminar will select those pieces.

3. ALEA III will perform in Boston 3 works, which will be determined by its Board of Directors.

4. According to their discretion, each one of the three faculty members of the 2016 Naxos Bassoon Days (Magnus Nilsson, Janet Underhill and Vassilis Priovolos) will arrange for performance of 1-3 works in their hometown.

2016 Competition Guidelines 

1. Full scores of any style and aesthetic direction may be submitted. Only one composition per composer is permitted. Composers born after January 1, 1976, may participate.
   Eligible works compete in two categories as outlined above.
2. There is no application fee.
3. All works submitted must be unpublished and must not have been publicly performed or broadcast in whole or in part or in any other version before the announcement of the ALEA III prize on August 31, 2016. Works that have won another award are ineligible.
4. The composer's real name must not appear on the score, which should instead be signed with a nom de plume.
5. Any jointly written work will be considered one entry. If such a work wins one of the cash prizes, the cash will be divided equally.
6. Entries must be submitted electronically as pdf files to the address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Optionally, the pdf file can be accompanied by a Finale or Sibelius version.
7. The submission of the score must be accompanied by the completed pdf official entry form.
8. All applicants must certify on their entry form that the work submitted is, to the best of their knowledge, an original work. Further, the composer must certify that the work is unpublished, and that it has not been publicly performed or broadcast in whole or in part or in any other version and that there are no such plans until August 31, 2016; and that it has not been awarded any prize until the same date.
9. All entries must be submitted no later than July 1, 2016.
10. All works not meeting these requirements will be rejected by the prize administrators without recourse.
11. The decision of the judges will be final. The judges reserve the right to divide an award or to decline to make an award.
12. Composers of works to be performed will be required to supply all parts by July 25, 2016.

2016 Competition Application 

Please use the link below to download a PDF of the competition application. Send by email the completed application form along with the pdf copy of your score to the address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Download the PDF application

See also the paragraph 2016 Competition Guidelines