Composition Competition

Awards

GertS and Hammond Award

For women composers of any age, resident of (home or school address in) Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, or Indiana. Previous MCW award winners of the Gerts, Hammond and Nerenberg award are not eligible to compete again. Judges reserve the right to withhold awards.

  • $3,000 award

  • 2 year MCW membership

  • Potential performance at an MCW sponsored concert

Farwell Trust Award(s)

Farwell awards are discretionary awards which may be given to composers not awarded a Gerts and Hammond award. Winners are determined as worthy of support by the judges as well as members of the Board of Directors. This award amount is flexible and will depend on the amount made available to MCW by the Farwell Trust. Winners will also receive MCW membership and may be scheduled for an MCW-hosted public performance.

Carefully review the information about Demonstration of Financial Need in the Awards Information drop down. Submission of Demonstration of Financial need is required to win a Farwell award.

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Elegibility Requirements

Please note composition competition does not have an age limit.

Application Requirements for Composition

Eligible candidates will be asked to submit the following to participate in the competition:

  • general application

  • 2 PDF scores of piece: one with applicant name, and one anonymous which will be used for adjudication (include measure numbers on both)

  • A recording of piece (either audio, video, or midi if necessary)

  • Headshot*

  • 250 word bio*

  • optional: demonstration of financial need

*to be used for announcement of winners

Composition Description

  • 5-8 minute piece for small ensemble (3-6 parts)

  • Submitted piece must not have previously won or be in consideration for another award from another organization

  • Submitted work must not be the result of a commission

Grounds for Disqualification

  • Unable to prove residency status

  • Unable to prove identity

  • Submitted composition is found to have:

    • Won another award from another organization

    • Been commissioned 

    • Evidence of plagiarism as identified by judges in the course of adjudication

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Contact the Competition Director with any questions: scholarshipmcw@gmail.com