International Computer Music Conference call for scores deadline: Feb 5, 2005 see: http://www.icmc2005.org/index.php?selectedPage=76

            University of Minnesota School of Music                     Noel Zahler, Director                            Announces       the 2005 Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Art,                     Douglas Geers, Director         West Bank Arts Quarter, University of Minnesota                      Twin Cities Campus                     February 17-20, 2005 CALL FOR COMPOSERS, ARTISTS, and PRESENTERS Submission Deadline: November 22, 2004 (postmark) The University of Minnesota School of Music is proud to present the 2005 Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Art, February 17-20. The festival will be held at the West Bank Arts Quarter on the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. Now in its third year, the Spark Festival showcases the newest groundbreaking works of digital music and art. Last year¹s festival included innovative works by over sixty international composers and artists. Leading scholars and technology specialists also presented papers relating to new technology and creativity. Spark invites submissions of new works incorporating new media, including electroacoustic concert music, experimental electronica, theatrical and dance works, installations, kinetic sculpture, artbots, video, and other non-traditional genres. Spark also invites submission of scholarly papers on technical and aesthetic subjects related to the creation of new media art and music. Topics of particular interest include: multi-media software and hardware development, interactive software and hardware, the use of artificial intelligence in music and the arts, spacialization, score following, machine listening, compositional applications of timbre/time, compositional tools and psychoacoustics. All accepted papers will be published as part of the Spark proceedings. MUSIC SUBMISSIONS Music submissions will be accepted in four categories: 1. Concert works: Electroacoustic works with and without performers.  Performance venues will accommodate 2-8 channel works and works with video.  Although there is no strict limit of duration, pieces of twelve minutes or less are encouraged. 2. "Club" works: Experimental electronic performances in a "club-style" venue.  Selected performers will be given sets of 15-30 minutes.  Performance venue will accommodate stereo sound and video. 3. Installations: [See "Visual Art Works" below] 4. DJ battle: A select number of DJs will be selected to compete in a one-evening event in which two winners will be selected: (1) most virtuosic and (2) most unique.  Note that prizes will be symbolic (not pecuniary!) in nature.  VISUAL ART WORKS Visual submissions will be accepted in three categories: 1. Installations and gallery works: A number of installation and gallery exhibitions will be mounted in various spaces on the UMN campus.  Please include technical and space requirements with submission. 2. Video: Video works will be screened at multiple Spark events. Videos featuring digital music compositions (two-channel) are welcome, but this is not required. Although there is no strict limit of duration, pieces of twelve minutes or less are encouraged. 3. Theater/Dance:  Theatrical and dance works incorporating new technologies are welcome at Spark 2005. Please include performance venue and technical requirements with submission. PAPERS Paper and lecture/demonstration submissions that deal with topics relating to new technology and creativity are encouraged, including intermedia composition, performance, human-computer interaction, software/hardware development, aesthetics, and history. Paper and lecture/demonstration submissions will be accepted in two categories:    1.      Standard length: Twenty-minute presentation, allowing for five minutes of Q/A.    2.      Short length: A feature unique to the Spark festival is Symposium Fast Forward, a presentation of five-minute presentations followed by five minutes of Q/A.  The idea of Symposium Fast Forward is to create an academic presentation equivalent to speed chess, in which ideas are presented quickly and succinctly, with time following for discussion. Both students and professionals are encouraged to submit presentations of this type. Standard submissions should consist of a two-page abstract with bibliography.  Camera-ready papers will be due on January 3, 2005.  Short length submissions should submit a one-paragraph abstract. Individuals may submit a maximum of one paper and one lecture/demonstration, and accepted papers and lectures/demonstrations will be submitted online. and More information about the submission process will be available soon on the Spark 2005 website when the online submission procedure has been activated. All accepted papers will be published as part of the Spark proceedings. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Applicants are invited to submit one work per category in up to two categories for consideration for presentation. Student works are encouraged. Please download a submission form from www.spark.cla.umn.edu and follow the instructions for submitting works. Limited performing resources will be drawn from the University of Minnesota, but applicants are encouraged to provide their own performers if possible. More information about available performers will be posted on the www.spark.cla.umn.edu in the near future. Composers and artists whose works are selected for inclusion are encouraged to attend the festival. TECHNICAL DETAILS Selected works will be announced by December 10, and travel and accommodations information will be posted on www.spark.cla.umn.edu by the same date. Submission deadline is November 22 (postmark).  For more information, and to obtain submission forms, please visit the Spark 2005 website at http://spark.cla.umn.edu. Questions can be directed to the conference hosts at sparkfst@umn.edu. 2005 SPARK FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONM FORMS available at: http://spark.cla.umn.edu -- Noel Zahler, DMA Director Professor School of Music University of Minnesota 200 Ferguson Hall 2106 Fourth Street South Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 Telephone: (612) 624-7060 email: nbz@umn.edu

ArtSong Competition Application Deadline: January 15, 2005 Seeks works for voice and piano (with one additional instrument an option) for their ArtSong Competition. Cash awards and performances. For complete information, visit http://www.composersforum.org/opportunities_detail.cfm?oid=4417 Details The American Composers Forum and The Schubert Club are pleased to announce a Call for Scores for its ArtSong Competition. Composers are invited to submit works for voice and piano, with optional accompaniment of one additional instrument. ArtSong is designed to honor the best in current American art song and to provide composers with a prominent presentation of their music. The competition capitalizes on the presence of international caliber vocalists who are scheduled to perform at the June 2005 Saint Paul Summer Song Festival, including Dawn Upshaw, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Nathan Gunn, and Michael Schade. GUIDELINES Eligibility: Scores are invited from composers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. There is no age limit and students are welcome. Applicants need not be members of the American Composers Forum, but are encouraged to join. Winning composers must be current members in order to receive the award. Membership status will not be considered in the selection process. Work: Composers may submit works for piano and one of the following voice parts: soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, or baritone. Optional accompaniment of one additional instrument may be drawn from the following: fl, ob, cl, eh, bs cl, bn, hn, tpt, tbn, perc, vn, va, vc, cb. Works containing electronic components/ content are eligible, but composers must provide all hardware and software necessary for performance. There is no limit to the number of entries per composer. Duration: Works may be a single song, a song cycle or group of songs (3-15 minutes duration). Text: The work may be a setting of any sacred or secular text in any common language. The rights to all texts must be secured; entries with texts that are not public domain must include documentation of permission/rights. Performance History: As the program's intent is to showcase new works, preference will be given to unperformed works. However, works with a limited performance history will also be considered. Submitted works must be unpublished and composed within the past five years. AWARDS First Prize: $1000, Performance by one of the above vocalists at 2005 St. Paul Summer Song Festival. Second Prize: $750 and Third Prize: $500; Note: While Second and Third place works may be presented, these works cannot be guaranteed a performance. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Applications must include the following: *       One bound and legible score. Please indicate duration and voice part. *       Program notes with date of composition, including the work's performance history, if any. *       Proof of public domain or author's written permission for use of text. *       Biography for publicity purposes, not to exceed two pages. Please include complete contact information. *       Recording (MIDI is acceptable) of the submitted work, if available. *       A self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of materials (optional). Deadline:  Postmarked on or before January 15, 2005. Selection Process: Applications and scores will be screened for completeness by ACF staff. Final selection and programming decisions will be based on a high level of artistic quality and made by an independent panel of experts. The names of the 2005 panelists will be announced after the selections are complete. Note: American Composers Forum and The Schubert Club reserve the right not to make an award. Winners will be notified by March 1, 2005. Send to: ArtSong Competition American Composers Forum 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E145 Saint Paul, MN 55101 For additional information, contact David Wolff at 651-251-2833, or email.