Our 2023 Composition Program Application deadline is January 7th, 2023.
Watch our Season 8 promo video for an inside look at our festival and what's in store this season!
Watch our Season 8 promo video for an inside look at our festival and what's in store this season!
guidelines to apply
Submit Two Representative Works
Applicants to Connecticut Summerfest's Composition Program will be asked to submit 2 representative scores (including graphic, aleatoric, and/or written performance instructions) and audio recordings, which are to be no longer than 15 minutes in combined duration. Single movements or excerpted scores and recordings may be submitted. Both acoustic and electronic/electroacoustic submissions will be accepted for adjudication.
Anonymous Application
Submitted scores and recordings must not include the composer's name, geographic location, or any information about commissioning parties. Submitted scores and recordings must not only omit this information in text on the score, it also must be omitted from file names and metadata. Failure to omit this information will lead to disqualification of application. Only mp3 audio files may be submitted, and video files will not be accepted.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on or before June 8, 2023. There is no upper age limit for composer applicants.
Selected Festival Composers' New Works
Composers invited to the festival will compose a new work of up to 7 minutes in duration and will work closely with their ensemble-in-residence during the compositional and rehearsal process. Invited composers may choose to write either an acoustic or electroacoustic work, as the festival will have access to a stereo sound system. Any additional equipment, software, or personnel the piece would need must be provided by the composer.
Selected Festival Composer Seminar Presentations
Invited composers will be asked to give a 20-minute presentation of their music and/or artistic interests at one of the composition seminars during Connecticut Summerfest 2023.
Applicants to Connecticut Summerfest's Composition Program will be asked to submit 2 representative scores (including graphic, aleatoric, and/or written performance instructions) and audio recordings, which are to be no longer than 15 minutes in combined duration. Single movements or excerpted scores and recordings may be submitted. Both acoustic and electronic/electroacoustic submissions will be accepted for adjudication.
Anonymous Application
Submitted scores and recordings must not include the composer's name, geographic location, or any information about commissioning parties. Submitted scores and recordings must not only omit this information in text on the score, it also must be omitted from file names and metadata. Failure to omit this information will lead to disqualification of application. Only mp3 audio files may be submitted, and video files will not be accepted.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age on or before June 8, 2023. There is no upper age limit for composer applicants.
Selected Festival Composers' New Works
Composers invited to the festival will compose a new work of up to 7 minutes in duration and will work closely with their ensemble-in-residence during the compositional and rehearsal process. Invited composers may choose to write either an acoustic or electroacoustic work, as the festival will have access to a stereo sound system. Any additional equipment, software, or personnel the piece would need must be provided by the composer.
Selected Festival Composer Seminar Presentations
Invited composers will be asked to give a 20-minute presentation of their music and/or artistic interests at one of the composition seminars during Connecticut Summerfest 2023.
Connecticut summerfest encourages applications from composers...
- of racial and ethnic minority groups
- of marginalized genders (i.e. trans men, all women including trans women, non-binary folks, etc.) and marginalized sexes (i.e. cisgender women, intersex folks, etc.)
- who love to collaborate and build lasting artistic relationships
- who are curious and kind
- who are open-minded to different musical styles and backgrounds
- who will contribute to a supportive and collaborative environment
The application fee for the Connecticut Summerfest 2023 Composition Program is pay-what-you-wish! We suggest contributing $30 (our former Early Bird Application fee), and you can learn how your application fee is used by our organization in our Application FAQ. No composer will be turned away for an inability to pay an application fee. Please email applications (at) ctsummerfest.org or use our contact form with any questions you may have.
festival composer benefits:
Live premiere of newly composed work by one of three professional ensembles-in-residence
High-quality video of newly composed work
Four private, 1-hour lessons with our world-class composition faculty
Dedicated rehearsal time with our ensembles-in-residence
Enriching guest lectures with leading music specialists
One-on-one consultation with Joshua DeVries, Founder and Creative Director of Just a Theory Press, to discuss possible publication of composers' works
Feedback from composition faculty and other Connecticut Summerfest composers at composition seminars
Join a growing network of artists, composers, performers, and sound artists
application timeline and schedule
Saturday, January 7, 2023 by 11:59PM EST: Application Deadline
Pay-What-You-Wish Application Fee (Suggested: $30)
Late February–Early March 2023: Initial Adjudication Results
Notification of initial adjudication results will be sent to applicants via email.
Pay-What-You-Wish Application Fee (Suggested: $30)
Late February–Early March 2023: Initial Adjudication Results
Notification of initial adjudication results will be sent to applicants via email.
Connecticut Summerfest 2023 COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Connecticut Summerfest 2023 will take place in-person in West Hartford, CT on the University of Hartford campus. Festival attendees will be required to follow COVID-19 vaccine and safety guidelines as outlined by the University of Hartford, including being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the festival.
Accepted festival composers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend Connecticut Summerfest 2023. The majority of our dining will be held outdoors or in a private area reserved especially for festival attendees. Please feel free to reach out via our contact form if you have any questions.
Connecticut Summerfest 2023 will take place in-person in West Hartford, CT on the University of Hartford campus. Festival attendees will be required to follow COVID-19 vaccine and safety guidelines as outlined by the University of Hartford, including being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the festival.
Accepted festival composers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend Connecticut Summerfest 2023. The majority of our dining will be held outdoors or in a private area reserved especially for festival attendees. Please feel free to reach out via our contact form if you have any questions.
new piece written for connecticut summerfest 2023
Composers accepted to Connecticut Summerfest 2023 will have the opportunity to write for one of our three ensembles-in-residence! We are proud to engage only professional, active chamber music ensembles who regularly commission and perform contemporary music and love working with living composers. Connecticut Summerfest values the spirit of collaboration and fosters meaningful relationships between composers and ensembles. Therefore, ensembles are not randomly assigned; composers may express their preference for their ensemble collaborators on their application.
Our 2023 ensembles-in-residence are:
Hub New Music
Sugar Hill Salon
Arx Duo
Festival composers' new pieces will be written March–May 2023, and composers are encouraged to communicate with their ensemble during the compositional process with any questions they may have. Festival composers will be asked to submit their finished new works (score and parts) by May 1, 2023.
Our 2023 ensembles-in-residence are:
Hub New Music
Sugar Hill Salon
Arx Duo
Festival composers' new pieces will be written March–May 2023, and composers are encouraged to communicate with their ensemble during the compositional process with any questions they may have. Festival composers will be asked to submit their finished new works (score and parts) by May 1, 2023.
Scholarships
In support of our mission to amplify the voices of composers of color and gender diverse composers, Connecticut Summerfest offers two types of partial scholarships to accepted 2023 festival composers: the Gender Diversity Scholarship and Composers of Color Scholarship. If you would like to be considered for these scholarships, please check the appropriate boxes on your application form.
Gender Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship is open to composers of marginalized genders (i.e. trans men, all women including trans women, non-binary folks, etc.) and marginalized sexes (i.e. cisgender women, intersex folks, etc.)
Composers of Color Scholarship
This scholarship is open to composers of racial and ethnic minority groups.
Gender Diversity Scholarship
This scholarship is open to composers of marginalized genders (i.e. trans men, all women including trans women, non-binary folks, etc.) and marginalized sexes (i.e. cisgender women, intersex folks, etc.)
Composers of Color Scholarship
This scholarship is open to composers of racial and ethnic minority groups.
connecticut summerfest auditing program
Our 2023 Auditing Program will open for registration in spring 2023.
The Connecticut Summerfest Auditor Program allows composers to expand their creative community while engaging in many meaningful educational and artistically exploratory sessions. This program is meant for composers who cannot afford our current tuition cost, cannot add a new piece to their spring compositional schedule, or cannot attend our entire week-long festival. Accessibility is important to us, which is why we have recently embarked on our long-term Tuition Free Initiative as well.
Connecticut Summerfest 2023 Auditors are composers who wish to attend Connecticut Summerfest in-person in West Hartford, CT, either by commuting to festival events if they are local or by residing in the dormitory if they are joining us from far away. Auditing composers will have the opportunity to attend all composition faculty presentations, composition seminars, guest lectures, and concerts. Auditing composers may also meet one-on-one with Joshua DeVries, Founder and Creative Director of our publishing partner, Just a Theory Press, to discuss possible publication of their music, if desired. Auditing composers will not present their music at composition seminars, have private lessons with composition faculty, or write a new work for one of our ensembles-in-residence.
Registration for Connecticut Summerfest's 2023 Auditor Programs will open in spring 2023. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis. Questions? Please reach out via our Contact Form.
Connecticut Summerfest 2023 Auditors are composers who wish to attend Connecticut Summerfest in-person in West Hartford, CT, either by commuting to festival events if they are local or by residing in the dormitory if they are joining us from far away. Auditing composers will have the opportunity to attend all composition faculty presentations, composition seminars, guest lectures, and concerts. Auditing composers may also meet one-on-one with Joshua DeVries, Founder and Creative Director of our publishing partner, Just a Theory Press, to discuss possible publication of their music, if desired. Auditing composers will not present their music at composition seminars, have private lessons with composition faculty, or write a new work for one of our ensembles-in-residence.
Registration for Connecticut Summerfest's 2023 Auditor Programs will open in spring 2023. Registration will be on a first come, first served basis. Questions? Please reach out via our Contact Form.