...dedicated to the promotion of composition, performance, understanding and dissemination of new and contemporary music...

Welcome to SCI!

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.

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Featured Composition

Visit this member's mySCI Webpage to learn more!

Why SCI?

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

The 2018 SCI Jazz Contest Winner and Honorable Mention

From the desk of Leslie La Barre (Marketing Coordinator) and Dan Cavanagh (SCI Jazz Contest Coordinator)

The Society of Composers, Inc. would like to congratulate the winner and honorable mention of the first SCI Jazz Contest 2018!

Congratulations: 
Winner and recipient of the $500 award: 
Justin Morell for his work Terraforming

Honorable mention (no monetary award): 
Remy Le Boeuf, for his work Secondhand Smile


2019 SCI Region VI Conference Call for Scores (Deadline October 12, 2018)

From the desk of Leslie La Barre (Marketing Coordinator) and David Davies (SCI 2019 Region VI Conference Coordinator)
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. 
All composers are welcome to submit works for consideration, though preference in score selection will be given to SCI composers who are members of Region VI. 

To join, go to www.societyofcomposers.org. Selected composers must join SCI and also attend the conference in order for their work to be performed. Submissions from student composers are strongly encouraged, as are submissions from composers who are able to supply their own performers.

Composers may submit up to 2 works for any of the listed performers/ensembles (with exceptions for those who are able to provide their own performers). Works should not exceed 20 minutes in length and selected movements of longer works are acceptable. All scores and recordings should be submitted through the New Music Engine site. MIDI recordings are acceptable if no live recording is available.

The deadline for submission is October 12, 2018. Composers whose work(s) will be performed at the conference will be notified via e-mail no later than December 19th. Interested composers are encouraged to submit their work as early as possible to accommodate conductors and performers looking to plan their repertoire for the semester. 

Works for solo instrument (accompanied or solo) may be submitted for the following instruments: 
Any voice type, Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Saxophone, Trumpet, 
Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium 

    Works may be submitted for the following large ensembles: 
    Wind Ensemble, SATB Choir, Jazz Band

    Works may be submitted for the following chamber ensembles: 
    Brass Quintet, Brass Quartet (Tpt, Hn, Tbn, Tba), Woodwind Trio (Fl, Cl, Sax), Saxophone Quartet, Trombone Choir, Clarinet Choir, Flute Choir, Brass Choir, Trumpet Choir
    Solo and chamber works involving string instruments may be submitted. However, composers should take note that A&M-Commerce does not have a string program and composers are strongly encouraged to provide their own string players. Composers who cannot supply their own performers are still welcome to submit, as the Department of Music may secure supplemental string musicians for the conference. 

    Composers and presenters who are selected for this conference are required to remit a registration fee and must agree to attend the conference. The Society of Composers, Inc. is not able to offer travel stipends or honorariums to conference participants. 

    For questions about the SCI 2019 Region VI Conference, contact David Davies at david.davies@tamuc.edu.

    2018 SCI Jazz Composition Competition (Deadline July 15, 2018)

    From the desk of Leslie La Barre (Marketing Coordinator)

    2018 SCI Jazz Composition Competition
    Society of Composers, Inc. is pleased to announce the first annual Jazz Composition Competition. One first prize will be awarded to a composer.
    First prize: $500.00

    To Qualify
    All entrants must be SCI members at the time of submission. Join SCI at http://www.societyofcomposers.org/join.

    Submitted works must have been composed in the past 5 years from the submission deadline. Only original works for jazz big band are eligible; arrangements are not eligible. The work submitted must have not received an award in a national or international composition contest.

    To Apply
    Submit both a score (PDF) and a recording (mp3) of one work composed for standard jazz band instrumentation [5 saxophones (with or without standard doubles), 4 trumpets/flugelhorns, 4 trombones (3 tenor plus bass), piano, guitar, bass, drum set]. The recording submitted can be of a studio session, live performance, or sequenced format. Live or studio recording preferred.

    *Scores should be free of identifying information, using only a title and pseudonym marked on the score.*

    Receipt Deadline: July 15, 2018, 11:59pm

    For additional information or questions, contact the contest coordinator, Dan Cavanagh, at scijazzcontest@gmail.com. 

    Winners will be notified by October 1, 2018

    CLICK HERE to submit your application today!

    SCI/ASCAP Competition results

    From the desk of 
    Ian Guthrie (Assistant Marketing Coordinator) & 
    Zae Munn (SCI/ASCAP Commission Competition Coordinator)

    Congratulations to the winners and honorable mention recipients in the 2018 SCI/ASCAP Student Commission Competition. They are listed here along with links to sound files of their winning compositions.

    High School/Undergraduate Division:
    Winner: Matthew Schultheis, Chamber Concerto
    https://soundcloud.com/mschultheis/chamber-concerto-for-15-players

    Honorable Mention: Stephen Karukas, I am [electric]
    https://iu.box.com/s/7i682cq1h887rigel5eo17oa5ser1q9k

    Graduate Division 
    Winner: Felipe Tovar-Henao, Danzas Encefalicas
    https://soundcloud.com/felipetovarhenao/danzas-encefalicas-2017-for-sinfonietta-and-electronics

    Honorable Mention: Charles Peck, Vinyl
    https://soundcloud.com/charlespeckmusic/vinyl-for-chamber-orchestra/s-5kGK8

    SCI CD series, Vol. 33


    From the desk of Leslie La Barre
    (Marketing Coordinator) & Chin-ting Chan (Submissions Coordinator)

    Deadline: May 31, 2018, 11:59 pm EST.

    The Society of Composers, Inc. is pleased to announce a call for works for Volume 33 of the Society of Composers, Inc. CD Series. The winners of this call will be featured on our SCI CD Series, released by Navona Records, a label under PARMA Recordings. To see an archive of past SCI CDs, please visit this page.

    Any questions can be directed to Chin-ting Chan: submissionscoordinator@societyofcomposers.org

                          Submit your application here!