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SUBMISSION DETAILS
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Compositions must be submitted by 9:00pm on Thursday, January 28, 2027.
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All applicants must be in grades 6-12 and reside in one of the following NY counties: Albany, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Warren, or Washington.​​
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The length of each composition must be between 4 and 8 minutes.
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Adding choral parts to your submitted piece is a possibility! If interested, please contact the SPAC Education team at education@spac.org for further details.
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Scores must be complete and finished when submitted.
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Each applicant must provide a digital PDF of their original score. (Please do not include the composer's name on the PDF so that the piece can be reviewed anonymously.)
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The work must be newly composed so that this performance is considered a “world premiere”.​​
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SUBMISSION CRITERIA
Submissions that meet the above requirements will be reviewed by panelists with the following criteria:
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Creative approach: Your composition should exhibit a unique artistic voice. A connection to the festival theme, “Illumination”, is strongly encouraged. Be bold! All musical styles are welcome.
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Playability: Your piece should be composed for the ESYO Repertory Orchestra instrumentation (3, 2, 2, 2 – 4, 3, 3, 1, timp., 3 perc., piano, strings), and it should not extend beyond a reasonable skill level for a youth orchestra.
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Presentation: Your submitted score should have clear and complete notation, as well as a clear communication of musical ideas. Non-conventional notation is welcomed.
2027 FESTIVAL THEME
ILLUMINATION
Illumination invites us to reveal, discover, and see in new ways. It can be found in the natural world, in the interplay of light and shadow, or in moments of discovery, understanding, imagination, and hope. To illuminate can mean bringing something hidden into view, shifting perspective, creating connection, or sparking something entirely new. This theme celebrates the many literal and symbolic ways illumination can transform how we see ourselves, one another, and the world around us.
AWARD DETAILS
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The composer of the selected piece will be presented with an Outstanding Artist Award on the SPAC stage along with a $500 check to support their future artistic endeavors.
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The composer will be mentored by Chris Fisher-Lochhead during the months of Feb-Apr. During this period, they will receive valuable input and guidance leading up to the performance at SPAC, as well as assistance with potential needs with instrumentation, orchestration, etc.
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The score & parts for the ESYO Repertory Orchestra will be due on March 22.
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The selected composer will be expected to attend one to three orchestra rehearsals (Sundays, 2–4 pm at Brown School, Schenectady) to collaborate with the orchestra by giving and receiving feedback.
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ESYO and SPAC may decide, with the composer’s permission and input, to add the element of dance to the selected piece for the SPAC performance.
