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Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts

Composition Competition Rules and Guidelines

The competition is open to all composers, regardless of age or nationality. This year there are three categories: Category A (Works for Chamber Ensemble), Category B (Works for Orchestra), and Category C (Works for Chorus). The information below provides details about the separate categories.

General Guidelines
  • Works may include non-interactive electroacoustic elements (e.g., fixed media).
  • Works may have been performed before, but should not have been composed before the year 2000.
  • Works which have been submitted to the RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition Competition in a previous year are eligible for submission, but works which have already been submitted two or more times are ineligible for entry.
  • An entry fee of $25 must be included with the first score submitted, regardless of category. There is an entry fee of $20 for each additional score submitted, regardless of category. For example, a composer who submits one score to Category A and another to Category B must submit a $45 entry fee. Composers may submit as many works as they like in any category.
  • Composers who would find the standard fee financially difficult may apply for a reduced fee of $18 for the first piece and $15 for each additional piece. To apply for a reduced fee, please send an explanatory email with the subject line “FEE REQUEST” to rednotefee@ilstu.edu.
  • Previous winners in any category of the RED NOTE New Music Festival Composition Competition may not enter.
  • Students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Illinois State University may not enter.
  • Attendance at the festival is encouraged but not required.
  • In the unlikely event that no entry is worthy of the award in a given category, the University reserves the right to award no prizes or prize money in that category.
  • SUBMISSION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 1, 2026.

Additional Guidelines - Category A (Chamber Ensemble)
  • Submitted works may be scored for any combination of one to sixteen instrumentalists and/or vocalists.
  • Works must not exceed 15 minutes in duration.
  • The final round of the competition will be judged by nationally and internationally recognized composers.
  • Results will be announced by January 15, 2027.
  • The composer of the winning work in Category A will receive a $1,000 prize, and the winning work will be performed at the RED NOTE New Music Festival in Normal, Illinois, on March 25, 2027.
  • The winning composer must agree to provide parts by January 30, 2027 in order to guarantee performance.
  • If the instrumentation of the winning work is for some subset of the guest ensemble's instrumentations, it may instead be considered by [Switch~ Ensemble].
    for performance at the RED NOTE New Music Festival.

Additional Guidelines - Category B (Orchestra)

Submitted works should be scored for orchestra, with the following maximum instrumentation:

3 Flutes (1 doubling piccolo or alto flute)
3 Oboes (1 doubling English horn)
3 Clarinets in B-flat (1 doubling A, E-flat, or bass clarinet)
3 Bassoons (1 doubling contrabassoon)
4 Horns
3 Trumpets
3 Trombones
1 Tuba
Percussion (4 players)
Timpani
Keyboard
Harp
Strings

  • Doublings not listed above may be permissible at the discretion of Dr. Samuel Chen, conductor of the Illinois State University Orchestra.
  • Works must not exceed 12 minutes in duration.
  • The ISU Symphony Orchestra is an advanced ensemble which features the School of Music’s top performers. However, judges reserve the right to consider playability in their deliberations.
  • Works featuring soloists (e.g., concertos) may be submitted with the understanding that the soloist must be supplied at no expense to the ISU Symphony Orchestra, and that the soloist must be able to attend at least one full rehearsal with the ensemble in advance of the concert date, as well as the dress rehearsal before the concert.
  • The final round of the Competition will be judged by Dr. Chen.
  • Results will be announced by December 1, 2026.
  • The composer of the winning work in Category B will receive a $1000 prize, and the work will be performed by the Illinois State University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Samuel Chen, at the RED NOTE New Music Festival in Normal, Illinois, on March 25, 2027.
  • The winning composer must agree to provide parts by December 15, 2026 in order to guarantee performance.

Additional Guidelines - Category C (Chorus)
  • In this category, published works are not eligible, but self-published works and works which have been previously performed or premiered may be submitted.
  • Submitted works must be scored for mixed choir in 4-8 parts, with moderate divisi.
  • Works may be with or without keyboard accompaniment.
  • Works with non-keyboard accompaniment may be permissible at the discretion of Dr. Andrew Bruhn, director of choral activities at Illinois State University (please inquire).
  • Works with full orchestra or similar forces will likely not be viable.
  • Works may be untexted or set to text of any language.
  • Works must not exceed 6 minutes in duration.
  • The final round of the Competition will be judged by Dr. Bruhn.
  • Results will be announced by December 1, 2026.
  • The composer of the winning work in Category C will receive a $1000 prize, and the work will be performed by the Illinois State University Concert Choir at the RED NOTE New Music Festival in Normal, Illinois, on March 25, 2027.

How to Enter