...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

UPCOMING 2019 SCI Conferences

2019 SCI National Conference
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.

http://purchase.unm.edu/local-hotel-information/index.html


2019 Region VI Conference
Texas A&M University?Commerce, Commerce, Texas
April 11-13, 2019
David Davies, host
http://www.societyofcomposers.org/conferences/2018_2019/2019region6.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, and there is a pdf poster attached to this email for printing and email forwarding.

http://www.societyofcomposers.org/students/ascap.html

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.

Zae Munn
SCI/ASCAP Commission Competition Coordinator 
sci.ascap@google.com

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.

For additional information you can contact Dr. David Davies at david.davies@tamuc.edu.

Please upload your submission to New Music Engine. 



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.