[OFF SITE] Competition for young composers "Michele Novaro" - deadline 20 oct. Penderecki and Danielpour in the jury

Article 1 - Object

The Associazione Mendelssohn, with the support of Toscana Energia, hereby announces the Second Edition of the «Michele Novaro» International Composition Competition. Michele Novaro (1818-1885) was the composer who, at the age of 29, wrote the music for the Italian National Anthem on the lyrics by Mameli. The competition aims to stimulate composers to create music able to reflect on Italian identity and culture.    

Article 2 - Admission requirements
The Competition is open to composers of all nationalities, who on 20 October 2017 are still under the age of 35. Candidates should submit to the jury a composition for chamber orchestra, lasting between 7 and 10 minutes, which is inspired by the values and themes of the Italian Constitution. In this edition, composers should focus on the theme of the “Italian Artistic and Cultural Heritage”, which lies in article 9 of the Italian Constitution. The work should involve a string orchestra, with the possible addition of 1 flute (or piccolo), 1 oboe, 1 clarinet (in B flat or in A), 1 trumpet, percussions (one player). The composition must absolutely be unpublished and unperformed until the end of the competition.
Candidates who have studied under one or more members of the jury, even occasionally or in a master class, will not be admitted.

Article 3 - Submission date
The deadline for the submission of manuscripts is 20 October 2017. Each participant may only present one composition.

Article 4 – Registration and submission of scores. 
Registration should be made through the site www.concorsonovaro.it 
All candidates must register on the site and fill in the online application form, following the instructions provided. The following documents must be uploaded: 
- scan of identity card or document giving proof of age and nationality;
- two recent photos;
- receipt of the payment of the registration fee of 80 Euros, via Paypal or bank transfer (Iban: IT47M 03069 09473 100000000316, BIC/Swift: BCITITMM) 
- completed and signed form (downloadable from the site), containing the following information: home address and phone numbers for any necessary communications, and an email address, curriculum vitae in Italian and English, self-certification testifying to the originality of the composition, which must not have been published, performed or recorded, the candidate's declaration that he/she has not studied under any of the members of the jury, and authorization for the performance, publication, recording and broadcasting of the work. Scores should be submitted through the site anonymously, both in PDF format, and in Sibelius or Finale format, following the instructions and the upload link given in the email received during the registration process.

The personal details of the composers of the three compositions selected for the final will be made known to the jury and public only when the results of the elimination phase of the competition have been announced. Composers who do not reach the final phase will remain anonymous also after the end of the competition.

Article 5 – Phases of the competition
The competition will consist of three phases: the elimination phase, the semifinal and the final. After the elimination phase, a maximum of 25 scores will be selected by the preliminary jury for the following phases, by October 31, 2017.  

In the semifinal phase, which will conclude by 15 November 2017, the jury will select up to a maximum of 3 compositions which will pass into the final phase. The title of the works chosen for the final will be published on the site of the Competition on 16 November 2017 and the three finalist composers will be informed by email.

The final phase of the competition will consist of an evening event open to the public to be held in Florence on 27 November 2017 at Teatro Goldoni, within the concert season of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. In the final concert, I Cameristi del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, conducted by Domenico Pierini will publicly perform the selected works. After the performances the Jury, present in the concert hall, will meet and decide on the winner. The winning composition will be announced at the end of the evening.

Article 6 – Jury and voting procedure

The preliminary jury for the elimination phase will be composed of three members: composer Cristian Carrara, musicologist Chiara Renino (Casa Musicale Sonzogno) and pianist Roberto Prosseda. 

The jury for the semifinal phase will be composed by five members: Krystof Penderecki, President, Cristian Carrara, Richard Danielpour, Giovanni Sollima, Pierangelo Conte (artistic director of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino). The jury will examine the submitted compositions independently and will indicate their choice of three scores electronically, giving them marks from 1 to 5. The three scores that obtain the highest total of marks will pass into the final phase. If there is a tie for third place, further votes will be cast (choosing between “yes” and “no”) exclusively for those compositions. Should there be a further tie, priority will be given to the vote of the president of the jury.

In the final phase, the jury will be the same as in the semifinal phase, with the addition of Piero Ostali (director of Casa Musicale Sonzogno) and Lorenzo Becattini, Italian Member of Parliament, who conceived and promoted the Competition, which has already been presented to the Lower Chamber of Parliament. After the performance of the three pieces, the jury will meet behind closed doors. Each member will fill in a paper form stating their order of preference of the three works, giving number 1 to the piece to be assigned first place, number 2 to second place, and 3 to third. At the end of the voting, the marks assigned by each member will be read and the total for each composition will be calculated. The composition with the lowest total will be awarded the Novaro prize. In the case of a tie, preference will be given to the work that obtained most number ones. Should there be a further tie, priority will be given to the vote of the president of the jury. After the competition, and by the end of December 2017, the marks given by the jury will be published on the site of the competition, together with the title of the works submitted (without giving the name of the composers whose scores did not reach the final stage).

Article 7 – Prizes and expenses refund

The winner of the competition will be awarded the “Novaro” Prize, which includes: 
- Publication of the work by the publishing house Sonzogno. 
- Commission of a chamber music work by Operabarga Festival, with the Premiere performance at Barga in summer 2018.   
- A money prize of 5.000 Euros (gross of withholding taxes). 

In addition, three special prizes will be awarded: 
- the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino discretional award: the artistic direction of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino will have the possibility to commission one of the three finalist composers a symphonic work, to be performed in the symphonic season of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino,  

- the audience prize, awarded by the public attending the final evening, who will vote using a form handed out in the concert hall. It consists of 500 Euros (gross of withholding taxes). 
- the critics’ prize, awarded by the critics’ jury, composed of three members: Sandro Cappelletto, Gianluigi Mattietti and Gregorio Moppi. The prize consists of 500 Euros (gross of withholding taxes).

The two finalists other than the winner of the Novaro Prize will receive a refund of expenses amounting to 500 Euros for attending the final event. The Novaro prize cannot be split and the possibility of no prize being awarded is not foreseen. The decision of the jury is irrevocable.

Article 8 - Legal terms
Application to participate in the Competition implies the acceptance of the above-stated rules. In the case of contestations, the Italian version of the announcement is legally binding. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of Milan.