Call For Submissions - Frontiers 2014

Fort Worth Opera is announcing a Call for Submissions through May 31, 2013 for our second annual showcase of new American operatic compositions.

The purpose of Fort Worth Opera’s FRONTIERS program is to search out undiscovered 21st Century operatic compositions, with an eye to identifying works for future presentation in our Opera Unbound performance series. This second year of this program will be chaired by Fort Worth Opera General Director Darren K. Woods and a jury of composers, conductors, producers, and opera administrators.

DISCOVER. The jury selected by Fort Worth Opera will evaluate blind submissions for the workshop. Works considered should be unproduced operas with 15-25 minutes of completed composition. Six to eight works will be selected for the final showcase. Fort Worth Opera is specifically seeking works that have global impact through a personal story.

PREPARE. Fort Worth Opera artists will be coached on the selected pieces by the music staff during the annual opera festival in Fort Worth. Final music rehearsals will be overseen by a guest conductor and held during lunchtime previews open to the public during the final week of the Festival (May 5-10, 2014). The composers and librettists will be invited to participate in the final rehearsal process and will receive feedback following the workshop.

INTRODUCE. Artistic directors for professional opera companies, classical music publishers, funding organizations, and Fort Worth Opera community members will be invited to attend the two afternoons of the workshop performances as part of the final weekend of the Festival (May 9-11, 2014). An emcee and the conductors will introduce each piece. Discussion about the works with the composers will follow each session.

DEVELOP.  Selected works will move forward with our partner companies represented on the panel for further development with an aim toward full production in a future Fort Worth Opera season.  Chamber works for adult audiences are the focus of the 2014 competition.

Divisions: Works will be divided into two classifications for reviewing by the panel members:

• Professional Premieres.  These are works that have had public performances, through workshops, conservatory or school performances, but have not yet received a professional premiere.
• Workshop Candidates.  These are works that have not received public presentation of any sort.

Awards: Six to eight pieces will be selected and showcased. Composers and librettists of the selected works must attend the rehearsal and showcase period (May 5-10, 2014). Lodging and round-trip travel will be provided, as well as an audio recording of the showcased selection. Works not selected will not be reconsidered for future showcases automatically but may be submitted again for the next year’s workshop.

Eligibility: All composers who are citizens or residents of the Americas (North America, Central America, South America, and associated territories) are eligible. Only operatic works not presented to the public previously will be considered. Works that have received workshop, conservatory or school productions are eligible.  A minimum of 20 minutes of the composition must be completed. The selection does not need to be contiguous. While the works may ultimately consist of grand scale personnel or orchestral forces, submitted selections may only utilize one to six singers. Only works that can be performed with solo piano accompaniment will be accepted for the showcase; no additional electronic, percussion, acoustic instrument, or other equipment shall be included in the showcase. Works submitted may be in any language. Composers may only submit one work for consideration for the FRONTIERS 2014 Showcase.

Submissions:  All submissions must be submitted electronically through our web portal located at http://artsapp.com/frontiers/.  There is a $20 application fee. 

Applications must consist of:

1. Piano/Vocal score for the selection ONLY (15-10 minutes of music)
2. Libretto for the selection ONLY
3. Synopsis of the entire work
4. Recorded sample of the selection ONLY.  These can be piano/vocal recordings, midi recordings, orchestral recordings, but must be converted into an mp3 or similar format before uploading.
5. Note:  All composer/librettist names must be removed from the submission materials for blind evaluation by the panel

Panel Members: Mark Adamo, Lawrence Edleson (American Lyric Theater), William Florescu (Florentine Opera), John Hoomes (Nashville Opera), Kurt Howard (Fort Worth Opera), Joe Illick (Fort Worth Opera), Charles Jarden (American Opera Projects), Ben Krywosz (Nautilus Music Theater), Beth Morrison (Beth Morrison Productions), Steven Osgood, Kim Whitener (HERE), Keith Wolfe (Fort Worth Opera), Darren Woods (Fort Worth Opera), Robert Wood (UrbanArias).