SCI is an independent organization concerned with the fellowship, collaboration, career goals, and objectives of new and contemporary music composers and those interested in topics related to composition. For Membership Information, including the member application, visit our membership information page.
Society of Composers, Inc. is an independent volunteer-based
organization concerned with the fellowship, collaboration, and career goals of
new and contemporary music composers and those interested in topics related to
composition.
But what does that mean? How does SCI do these things?
Conferences
Every year, several multi-day conferences are coordinated by
SCI members with the sole intention of presenting new and exciting works by
fellow SCI composers. Not only are these conferences a vehicle to get your
music performed and hear new pieces but also an opportunity to share ideas and performance
resources with other composers from across the country. Professional contacts
established at our conferences can benefit composers for their entire career.
SCI has one annual national conference in addition to the
several conferences which happen on the regional level (and yes, you can submit
works to regions other than your own!). SCI also has select conferences
exclusively for student members.
Opportunities
SCI is also a great place to learn about opportunities for
performances, awards, recordings, and commissions through the online list
SCION. While SCI sends out a reminder about SCION once a month, new
opportunities are listed all the time. SCION lists thousands of such calls for
works each year.
SCI also provides certain opportunities which are only for
SCI members. In addition to the conferences, SCI has partnered with ASCAP to
create the annual SCI/ASCAP Student Composition Commission. For all members,
SCI publishes the Journal of Music Scores (consisting of members' scores) and
thanks to our relationship with Parma Recordings, SCI offers composer-based
recording opportunities and CD distribution.
Resources
With the conferences, the SCION opportunity list, the
Journal of Music Scores, the Composers' CD Series, the Performers' CD Series,
and the bi-monthly SCI Newsletter, SCI has a variety of ways to stay current
and connected on the diverse world of contemporary music composition. You can
even manage your own information, scores, and recordings using your
personalized website available via your own mySCI Account!
Community
One of the main reasons for all of these features is to
foster a sense of community and to facilitate dialog and the open share of ideas
and resources between SCI members. Anyone can join SCI regardless of your
compositional interests and tastes. More members means more diversity; more
diverse musical voices means more interesting discussions! Membership in SCI
provides more than a website with calls for scores. Membership in SCI provides
a wide spectrum of resources meant to cultivate a strong and vibrant community
of creative musicians.
Recent SCI News Items
2019 SCI REGION V Conference (Deadline May 13th)
Call for Submissions
Eastern Illinois University is pleased to announce a call for works for the 2019 Region V Conference of the Society of Composers, Inc. The conference will be held on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, October 11-12, 2019.
Selected composers must be current SCI members. Preference will be given to members within Region V (IN, MI, MN, OH, IL, IA, MN, ND, SD, WI, MB, ON). Student submissions are welcomed and encouraged. Submission of works for which the composer can provide performers are welcomed and encouraged.
Composers may submit up to 2 works. Works that are no more than 15 minutes in duration will have the best chance of being programmed. All scores and recordings (MIDI is acceptable if no live recording is available) should be submitted online only via the New Music Engine website (www.newmusicengine.org). All composers will be notified about the acceptance status of their submission no later than July 15, 2019.
(Early submissions are strongly encouraged to help accommodate conductors and performers planning their repertoire for the season. Early acceptance/notification may be possible in some cases.)
Submitted works can fit into any of these categories:
Solo/Chamber: Compositions for Instrumental/vocal or mixed-media (any instrument or combinations of instruments) for consideration by EIU performers. Works that draw from the following list will have the best chance of being programmed by EIU performers: picc, fl, ob, eng horn, cl, bass cl, bsn, hn, tpt, tbn, euph, tuba, sax, vln, vlc, db, piano, percussion, all voices. Any chamber piece requiring more than three string players will not be a good fit for the resources available for this conference.
7. Electroacoustic Music
Compositions for fixed audio or audio/video media, and/or live computer/electronics; installations. Works can be diffused over an 8.1 audio system.
8. Composer Provided Performer
Composers are encouraged to bring their own performers. Solo and chamber works for all choral and orchestral instruments may be submitted for consideration by EIU performers. However, please note that Eastern Illinois University does not have a faculty harpist, organist, or classical guitarist.
EIU Electronic Music Studios encourages submission of electronic media and art for presentation. We have a state-of-the-art performing arts center which can accommodate video projection and multichannel audio playback. In your submission, please provide detailed technical requirements, and list what the composer can provide.
Composers and presenters who are selected for this conference are required to remit a registration fee and must agree to attend the festival. Regrettably, SCI is not able to offer travel stipends or honorariums to conference participants.
Upload submissions to the New Music Engine at: https://www.newmusicengine.org/categories/2019-SCI-Region-V-Conference/index.html
The Annual SCI/ASCAP Student Commission Competition [Deadline: May 1, 2019]
The annual SCI/ASCAP Student Commission Competition is now open, with two levels, one for undergrad/high school composers and one for graduate students. Details are available at this link: CLICK HERE
The competition is for composers who are members AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION.
Although composers are expected to be SCI student members at the time of application, I want to emphasize that the membership fee ($25/$35) is not intended as an application fee, and it is not used to finance the contest?s commission awards. Rather, it is a special opportunity for students who are already members and an invitation to non-members to try out SCI, Inc. for a year to experience what the organization can offer members:
-connection to nearly 1500 other composers,
-performance opportunities at regional and national SCI conferences
-specialized SCI Snapshot conferences specifically for students
-access to a wide variety of email postings and discussions amongst members
-an online opportunities listing that is inclusive, up-to-date, and easy to use? publication and recording opportunities available only to SCI members
If you have composition students or know composers who might fit into either level, please consider personally inviting them to participate, and tell them the reasons for your own SCI membership. It is clear that women composers are a much smaller portion of the SCI membership, and it is also clear that there has been a much smaller proportion of women entering the contest in the past. This may also be true of composers-of-color, but it harder to know that because it is often not apparent from names. I invite you to make a special effort to encourage any young composers to enter who might not have thought about joining a professional organization or who might be unsure of the reception they would receive. An influx of young composers, including those in under-represented groups, would be a lovely bonus outcome of this year?s competition and we would welcome them!
Deadline: May 1, 2019
For further information, please feel free to contact Zae Munn.
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico March 28-31, 2019 Peter Gilbert and Karola Obermüller, hosts http://www.societyofcomposers.org/conferences/2018_2019/2019national.html
*Housing Availability: Best Western $74+tax. A room block of 15 kings and 5 double queens is being reserved for SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS - you can call 505-242-7022 to make reservations.
Here's a link to other places - please note these are the February rates. If you call other hotels, be sure to explain you are a guest of UNM and would like to have the UNM rate - and March rates are sure to be higher.
The Annual SCI/ASCAP Student Commission Competition [Deadline: May 1, 2019]
The annual SCI/ASCAP Student Commission Competition is now open, with two levels, one for undergrad/high school composers and one for graduate students. Details are available at this link, and there is a pdf poster attached to this email for printing and email forwarding.
Although composers are expected to be SCI student members at the time of application, I want to emphasize that the membership fee ($25/$35) is not intended as an application fee, and it is not used to finance the contest?s commission awards. Rather, it is a special opportunity for students who are already members and an invitation to non-members to try out SCI, Inc. for a year to experience what the organization can offer members:
-connection to nearly 1500 other composers,
-performance opportunities at regional and national SCI conferences
-specialized SCI Snapshot conferences specifically for students
-access to a wide variety of email postings and discussions amongst members
-an online opportunities listing that is inclusive, up-to-date, and easy to use? publication and recording opportunities available only to SCI members
If you have composition students or know composers who might fit into either level, please consider personally inviting them to participate, and tell them the reasons for your own SCI membership. It is clear that women composers are a much smaller portion of the SCI membership, and it is also clear that there has been a much smaller proportion of women entering the contest in the past. This may also be true of composers-of-color, but it harder to know that because it is often not apparent from names. I invite you to make a special effort to encourage anyyoung composers to enter who might not have thought about joining a professional organization or who might be unsure of the reception they would receive. An influx of young composers, including those in under-represented groups, would be a lovely bonus outcome of this year?s competition and we would welcome them!
Deadline: May 1, 2019
For further information, please feel free to contact Zae Munn.
SCI REGION VI "CALL FOR PAPERS and PRESENTATIONS" [DEADLINE Nov. 30]
From the desk of Leslie La Barre (Marketing Coordinator) and David Davies (SCI 2019 Region VI Conference Coordinator)
SCI REGION VI "CALL FOR PAPERS and PRESENTATIONS" [DEADLINE Nov. 30]
The Society of Composers, Inc., Region VI (AR, KS, MO, NE, OK, TX) Conference will be held April 11-13 at Texas A&M University-Commerce in Commerce, TX hosted by Dr. David Davies.
Along with the performance of works by SCI composers, we are also extending a call for Papers and Presentations by members of SCI who wish to share their research pertaining to compositional technique, pedagogy, contemporary trends, and analysis.
Please submit abstracts of 300 words or less as a PDF through New Music Engine. In the file, include any technology requirements. Paper sessions will last a total of 30 minutes, including 10 minutes for questions.
Individuals who have submitted scores in response to the earlier call may also submit for the paper presentation. Composers are limited to one paper submission each.
The deadline for submission is November 30th and applicants will be notified via email by January 15th. In order for us to be sure to meet our Conference program printing deadline, we ask that a submissions include a 150 word bio and print quality jpeg headshot.
