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Brock Memorial Student Composition Contest

History and Objectives

The Raymond W. Brock Commissions have been in place since 1991 and are awarded to established composers only. In an effort to find another means for furthering its mission to promote choral music and ensure its future, the American Choral Directors Association initiated the Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Contest in 1998.

This contest, underwritten by the Raymond W. Brock Composition Fund, is an opportunity for young composers to showcase their talents and have their work premiered at an ACDA conference.

The objectives of the contest are three-fold:

  1. to acknowledge and reward outstanding undergraduate and graduate student composers,
  2. to encourage choral composition of the highest caliber, and
  3. to further promote student activity at ACDA divisional and national conference.

Click here to see a list of previous winners and their compositions.

Application Deadline

October 1 annually

Qualifications

Applicant must be a current ACDA student member, full-time undergraduate or graduate student, and no older than twenty-seven on the application deadline.  The winner's ACDA membership must remain current through the performance of their piece at the conference. 

Application Fee

There is no application fee. 

Composition Criteria

Only one composition will be considered from each applicant. Submitted work must meet all the following criteria:

  1. Voicing. Composition must be set for a combination of voices that may be found in a single choir with members of similar ages.
  2. Accompaniment. Composition may be unaccompanied or accompanied by a single piano.
  3. Text. Any sacred text or a text that is sacred in nature may be used with the following provisions:
    A. Text must be in the public domain, or the text must be accompanied by the written permission of the author.
    B.  The source for the text must be accurately and completely documented.
    C.  Non-English language texts (except Latin) must include a phonetic pronunciation guide underlaid in the score.
    D.  Non-English language texts must include both poetic and literal translations.
  4. Copyright. Composition must conform to all U.S. copyright laws. Those works in violation will be disqualified.
  5. Format.
    Composition must be submitted in a computer-generated typeset format. 
    Include a title sheet identifying the work, composer, text, text
    source/author, voicing and accompaniment.
  6. Duration. Length of composition must be at least three minutes and no more than five minutes.
  7. Past Performance. Composition must have received no public performance.
  8. Past Publication. Composition may not be published anywhere.

Prize

The winner of the contest will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize, conference registration, and a performance of the work on the main stage by a choral ensemble selected by the association. During division conference years, the work will be performed at the winner's division conference.

Release

By applying for this competition, you release to ACDA all video, audio, duplication, broadcast and photography rights generated by the performance of this piece at the ACDA conference.  

Contest Judges

The ACDA National Office will administer the Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Contest. An independent panel of distinguished choral musicians and/or composers will judge all entries submitted. The decision of the judges is final.

Disclaimer

No person connected with the Raymond W. Brock Student Composition Contest, nor any judge connected with the selection process shall be involved with a decision involving that person’s student (over the past three years) who has entered the Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Contest. ACDA is not responsible for electronic submission failures.

Application Procedure

All application materials will be submitted electronically through the ACDA web site.   A complete application includes the following:

  1. Score:  PDF file, max file size 1 MB. 
  2. Applicant Statement and Faculty Endorsement - download form here.  Type the requested information then print and sign the form.  Upload a scanned copy of the document.  Acceptable file types: PDF; max file size: 800 KB.
  3. Written permission from the author to use the text (if applicable):  PDF file, max file size 800 KB.
  4. Recording - A recording of a private performance of the work may be include, but is not required:  MP3, max file size 800KB.

Contact

Contact the ACDA Conference Consultant with any questions related to this contest.

Application

Note: you must be a current member of ACDA and be logged into this site in order to submit an application. Incomplete applications will be disqualified. To log in click here.  To establish or renew ACDA membership, click here.  

Click here to begin your online application.