Civic Fellows Call for Scores
We are now accepting applications for the 2025 Call for Scores.
A letter from the Civic Fellows:
The Fellows of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago are thrilled to announce the sixth iteration of our Call for Scores composers project!
As we are guided to excel in the historic traditions of classical music, we find with utmost importance the need to develop a strong relationship with new music performance and the composers of today. This relationship is crucial to the direction we see for the future of classical music.
This season, we are conducting a nationwide Call for Scores encouraging composers to submit up to one score of an existing work written within the last 10 years. From this call, we will select up to five works to be performed at a culminating chamber concert on Saturday, May 17, 2025 in Chicago, IL at Symphony Center by members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
The application is free, and composers who are selected will be invited to Chicago and provided hotel accommodations for three days to work with us in rehearsal and attend the final concert. They will also receive a $300 honorarium and a professional audio recording of the performance of their composition.
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago strives to be an organization that is inclusive and accessible to all. Recognizing that classical music has historical ties to prejudice, the effects of which are still felt today, the Civic Fellows welcome all who are interested and encourage composers from marginalized and underrepresented communities to apply.
Please read below to find information on Deadlines, Eligibility, Terms of Participation and the Application.
Watch past recordings from the Civic Fellows chamber projects here.
DEADLINE: Apply by 9:00 am CST on Friday, February 28, 2025
Submissions will be reviewed by the Civic Fellows, and selected composers will be notified by Friday, March 14.
Please note that if selected to participate, composers must be physically present in Chicago May 16-18, 2025 to engage in the preparation, performance and recording of their work
There is no fee to apply.
For more information, please contact Rachael Cohen.
Timeline
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 – Application Opens
Friday, February 28, 2025, 9:00am Central Time – Application Deadline
By Friday, March 14, 2025 – Results will be sent via email
Friday, May 16, 2025 – Chamber Rehearsals with composers in Chicago, IL
Saturday, May 17, 2025 – Performances of selected works at Symphony Center in Chicago, IL
Sunday, May 18, 2025 – Audio Recording of selected works at Symphony Center in Chicago, IL
How to Apply
Applicants must reside and be eligible to work in the United States.
Submit as application:
- PDF of a score for a completed piece that meets the criteria outlined below. Applicants are also encouraged but not required to submit a recording of their piece (attach an audio or video file or include a link).
- Short answer responses (no more than 150 words) or video responses to the following questions:
- Please submit a short bio that you feel represents your creative passions and interests - we are especially interested in learning about your story as a composer and musician, and how that feeds into your work.
- What interests you in this specific Call for Scores? What are you hoping to gain from this collaboration?
- Tell us a little about the piece you are submitting. What inspired it? What story does it tell? How does it tell your story as an artist?
- Tell us a little bit about your creative process. What gives you inspiration? What makes you feel fulfilled, creatively? We want to get to know your artistic process, and what makes you feel empowered as a composer.
Please do not submit more than one score for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Composition Eligibility
This is a national Call for Scores. Composers must reside and be eligible to work in the United States to participate. All ages are welcome to apply, provided that the composer is eligible to work in the United States.
Composers may submit only one piece. Pieces must have been written within the last 10 years. All notation types, genres and styles will be considered.
This is a call for chamber music compositions. We will be accepting pieces for 2-14 musicians.
Instrumentation Guidelines
- Violin*, Viola*, Cello*, Double Bass*, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet*, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion*, Harp*, Piano, Electronics
- Works may include any combination (and multiples) of the instruments listed above.
- Works including electronics/amplification are allowed. Solo works for 1 instrument and electronics will be considered.
- Pieces requiring trained vocalists will not be considered as it is our goal to highlight and utilize the musicians within our orchestra. However, pieces including singing or speaking parts for instrumentalists will be considered.
- Instruments not on this list can be considered but should be performed by the composer.
- Works must be unconducted, and no longer than 20 minutes. They may be stand alone pieces, multi-movement, or individual movements.
- Each piece will receive about 8 hours of rehearsal time. Please choose a piece that you feel will be the best fit for this amount of rehearsal, and one that works well as an unconducted work.
*Denotes Civic Fellows instrumentation. All Fellows will be performing on this concert, so priority will be given to a program that utilizes as many instruments marked with an asterisk as possible.
Terms of Participation
Civic Fellows will choose up to five works by unique composers. The selected composers will:
- Have their work performed in concert by members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago at Symphony Center
- Receive a $300 honorarium
- Receive free hotel accommodations for May 16-18, 2025
- Receive ground transport reimbursement (with the possibility of flight reimbursement) to and from Chicago, IL
- Receive a professional audio recording of the performance of their composition
- Provide the Civic Orchestra with a score and parts of the selected piece
- Give permission for a mechanical license (without an additional fee) so that the audio recording of the piece can be shared indefinitely by the Civic Orchestra on the CSO's digital platforms, including cso.org, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
Please note that if selected to participate, composers must be physically present in Chicago from May 16-18, 2025 to engage in the preparation, performance and recording of their work.
Due to the volume of submissions received, we are unable to provide feedback on application materials.