2012 Barlow Prize GuidElines
2012 Barlow Prize Competition
$12,000 Commission
New Work for A Cappella Choir
The winning composer will receive a $12,000 commission from the Barlow Endowment to compose a major new work for A Cappella Choir. The winning composer’s work will be premiered in 2014 by a consortium of three choirs: BBC Singers (London), LATVIAN RADIO CHOIR (Latvia), and VOLTI (San Francisco).
The 10-12 minute work is expected to meet the highest artistic requirements for the medium. Additional specifications for the work will be negotiated among the Barlow Endowment, the composer, and the performing consortium. Half of the commission fee will be paid when the contract for the commission is signed, and the other half will be paid when the finished score is submitted to the Endowment.
1. ELIGIBILITY
There are no restrictions with regard to musical style, nationality, age, gender, race, religion, or political persuasion. The only limitations are: 1) composers who have won the Barlow Prize in the previous five years will not be considered; and 2) members of the Barlow Boards are not eligible.
2. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Composers may apply for the Barlow Prize by filling out an application found on our website: http://barlow.byu.edu. Supporting materials should be sent by regular or express mail and must include a résumé of compositional activity and exactly two recent representative scores. Since the prize is a commission, anonymous submission is not necessary. One of these compositions must be no more than five years old. Composers should select at least one work that demonstrates knowledge of writing unaccompanied mixed (SATB) chorus. The other may be any example that showcases the composer at his/her best. Scores with recordings are considered extremely helpful in the judging process. For ease of handling, judges urge composers to burn a single CD containing both submitted works, and to use multiple tracking for multi-movement works. Be certain the CD case lists detailed program and track information. The judging panel will not be able to review cassette tapes, MP3, DVD, video, midi, or DAT formats. FAQs
3. DEADLINES
Applications must be received no later than June 1, 2012. This deadline is absolute--the Endowment is not obligated to respond to composer requests for any exception, and will not consider applications received after that date. We encourage contestants from outside the United States to mail their materials early to avoid problems caused by postal delays. FAQs
4. JUDGING
The Barlow Prize will be judged by the Barlow Endowment Board of Advisors and additional guest judges representing the interests and perspectives of the performers. The Barlow Endowment will notify the winner, participants, and friends of the Endowment of the results before September 15, 2012. If, in the opinion of the judging panel, no applicant merits the Barlow Prize, it shall not be awarded.
The Barlow Endowment does not return scores and recordings, or any other materials submitted by applicants. Meticulous care will be exercised in processing all materials submitted, but neither the Endowment nor Brigham Young University will be responsible for lost or damaged scores or recordings. FAQs
Download an application here as a PDF or Word document.