Essentially Choral Call for Scores

(Postmark Deadline: September 10, 2004) The American Composers Forum and VocalEssence announce a call for Scores for Essentially Choral, the fourth annual reading session for works for voice and instruments.  Essentially Choral provides a unique opportunity for talented emerging composers to write for choral ensemble with instrumental accompaniment of up to fifteen instruments. For complete guidelines and application forms, please select the Essentially Choral section at: www.composersforum.org/programs.cfm Up to five composers will be selected to have their works read by the Ensemble Singers, VocalEssence's 32-voice professional chorus, and professional orchestral musicians. Selected composers will attend a rehearsal with the Ensemble Singers, a three-hour reading session with the vocalists and instrumentalists, and a mentoring session with internationally recognized composer Sven-David Sandström and VocalEssence Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. Selected composers must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Composers who are currently enrolled as students must be thesis status/ABD. Travel and lodging assistance is provided for composers living in the five boroughs of New York City and Minnesota composers residing outside the Twin Cities area, as stipulated in the Jerome Foundation grant guidelines. Composers from other locations are invited and encouraged to apply, but must finance their own travel and lodging. Composers selected will receive a $500 honorarium to defray expenses, and will be required to attend the reading and surrounding activities. Works should be for SATB, SSAATTBB, or variations thereof. Other voicings are accepted but please note that there are 32 singers in total. Applicants do not need to be members of the American Composers Forum; however, selected composers must become members in order to receive awards. For more information, contact: David Wolff, Director of Minnesota Chapters American Composers Forum 651.251.2833 or dwolff@composersforum.org