Composition Contest

About

In an effort to further its mission to bring art to those affected by homelessness, the Dallas Street Choir established the “Home Is… Composition Contest for Emerging Composers” in 2021.

Objectives

· To create original songs and choral works using lyrics that complete the thought, “Home Is…”

· To bring new and purposeful music to those affected by homelessness and those supporting them.

· To raise awareness of the plight of homelessness.

· To entice composers of the highest caliber to compose on this topic.

· To further promote the Dallas Street Choir’s mission.

Rules

There is no age limit for applicants. Applicants may be housed or unhoused individuals. Submitted works must not be published, but may have been previously performed or premiered. (Works published through a self-publishing platform will be accepted.) Composers may submit one work per competition year. All voicings (including unison songs) and difficulty levels will be considered. No electronic music, please, but any other style/genre is welcome. Works may be unaccompanied or accompanied and may include limited additional instrumentation. Songs and choral octavos between three and six minutes in length will receive priority consideration.

Categories

1. Unison: this original composition will be performed by the Dallas Street Choir, a unison choir with piano accompaniment.
2. Choral: this original composition may utilize any standard choral voicing and may be unaccompanied or accompanied. Composing for additional instrumentation is allowed, but should be limited.
3. Composer identifies as a member of the street community: this original composition may be unison or utilize any standard choral voicing and may be unaccompanied or accompanied. Composers in this category may submit an audio recording of their original composition in lieu of printed music. Please do write out lyrics and provide their source if not original.

Awards

There will be one winner in each of the three categories listed above. Each winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the winning piece in the unison category will receive a performance by the Dallas Street Choir.

Submission Guidelines

Print and complete the Home Is – Application Form and mail along with your submission.

NEW DEADLINE: All submissions due September 1, 2021.

Mail or email your score with the composer’s name removed along with the text (with written permission from copyright holder, if applicable) and translation (if not English). Electronic Submissions Preferred. If emailing, send all application materials to: info@DallasStreetChoir.org

If mailing, send five copies of your score to:

Dallas Street Choir

P.O. Box 222052
Dallas, Texas 7522