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APPLICATION  INFORMATION & FORM

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Application Due:

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025​​

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: The application cannot be saved, so you must complete it in one sitting. However, you may take as long as you wish within one setting.

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Step I: First, Choose Your Activity Category (or Categories)

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Each applicant must apply in AT LEAST ONE of the following categories.

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You may apply to participate in as many categories as you wish with no additional fee. All Composers are strongly encouraged to apply for the category of “composer/performer” so that they will have the option of participating in performance activities during the 2025 symposium.

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In the categories below, there are five composition projects to choose from according to the instructions below.

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  • Category I: Composer (non-performer)

If you wish to compose only one work for performance at the symposium, then please choose a project from Project #1 through Project #5. However, if you would like to compose two works, then choose one project from Project #1 through Project #3, and a second project from Project #4 and Project #5. Another option is to compose music for only Projects #4 and/or #5.
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PLEASE NOTE: for Project #1, Project #2, Project #4 and Project #5 you will be creating a new piece, while for Project #3, you will submit previously composed works to be considered for a concert performance at OBFCS.
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Deadline for new scores & parts: 

[Projects #1, #2, & #4]

TUESDAY, JUNE 17th

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On the application form, you may also apply for the Composers Film Festival so that you can present a film for which you have written music or a film that you have created as a filmmaker.

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The Composition Projects are:
 

Project #1: COMPOSE A NEW WORK on the theme of "Living in Harmony with Nature: the Environment & Global Climate Change"—You may write for 1-6 instruments in any configuration chosen from the instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration. 

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Project #2: COMPOSE A NEW WORK on any theme of your own choosing—You may write for 1-6 instruments in any configuration chosen from the instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration. 

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Project #3: SUBMIT SEVERAL PREVIOUSLY COMPOSED WORKS for us to consider for performance in an OBFCS concert—You may submit as many as five previously composed scores to be considered for performance in an OBFCS concert. You may submit scores composed for 1-6 instruments in any configuration chosen from the instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration. 

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Project #4: NEW INTERCULTURAL COMPOSITION FOR SHAKUHACHI—

Our guest artist, Daniel De Togni, will mentor students who are interested in creating new music for shakuhachi solo or shakuhachi with 1-2 instruments selected from our instrumental roster below. Pieces should be approximately 3-7 minutes in duration. Daniel will then perform their works on an OBFCS concert. 

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Project #5: INTERCULTURAL COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE FOR BALINESE GAMELAN ("Pacific Rim Gamelan")—Compose music for Balinese Gamelan (the "Pacific Rim Gamelan") and perform it as a member of the ensemble. Participants will learn to play these beautiful instruments, compose for them, and perform works that are being written for our "Gamelan Celebration Concert" at the end of the symposium. Robert Kyr, OBFCS Director, is also the director of the Pacific Rim Gamelan, and will be your mentor as you learn how to play and compose for this ensemble.​​

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INSTRUMENTAL ROSTER:

Flute I (doubling piccolo)

Flute II

Oboe (doubling English Horn)

Soprano Sax (doubling Alto Sax)

B-flat Clarinet I (doubling Bass Clarinet)

B-flat Clarinet II (doubling Bass Clarinet)

Piano I

Piano II

Violin I (doubling Viola)

Violin II

Viola I

Cello I

Cello II​

  • Category II: Composer/Performer (instrumentalists [western & non-western instruments] and/or vocalists)
Apply as a composer/performer for as many of the following options as you wish:

1) To compose music for one or two of the Composition Projects listed in Category I above.

2) Composers Film Festival so that you can present a film for which you have written music or a film that you have created as a filmmaker.

3) OBFCS Improv Ensemble

4) Balinese Gamelan (no previous experience required)

5) As a performer, you are automatically accepted into the Artists Collaborative Ensemble, which is comprised of all the composer/performers and performers in the symposium—you will have the opportunity to perform in one or more symposium concerts.
 
  • Category III: Performer (non-composer)
Apply as a performer (western &/or non-western instruments, or voice) for as many of the following options as you wish:

1) Perform in one or more symposium concerts as a member of the Artists Collaborative Ensemble

2) Perform in the OBFCS Improv Ensemble

3) Play in the Balinese Gamelan (no previous experience required)
 
  • Category IV: Conductor
If you are a conductor, please apply under Category IV. If you are a conductor/composer, please make sure to also apply under Category I (Composers) as well as Category IV (Conductors).
Performers and composer/performers may apply as solo or ensemble improvisors who will improvise as a soloist or as a member of the improv ensemble. The OBFCS Improv Ensemble is open to all applicants.
  ("Pacific Rim Gamelan")
All applicants may sign up to play in and compose for the Balinese gamelan. No previous experience is necessary. If you wish to also compose for the Balinese gamelan, please make sure to apply under Category I (Composers) or Category II (Composer/Performers) as well as Category VI (Balinese Gamelan).
  • Category VII: Auditor Only
Anyone may apply as an "auditor only" in order to audit any sessions that they wish; there is no restriction on the number or type of sessions that auditors may attend.
  • Category VIII: Apply as a Pre-existing Ensemble
Individual performers may also apply as members of a pre-existing ensemble. If you are applying with an ensemble, please be sure to also apply as an individual in either Category II (Composer/Performer) or Category III (Performer).

Step II: Before filling out your application, please familiarize yourself with the list of application materials and the instructions below.

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1) APPLICATION FORM:

All participants, including auditors

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The online application is linked below. Please be sure to mark ALL of the categories in which you plan to participate. No prior experience is required to participate in Category V (OBFCS Improv Ensemble) or Category VI (Balinese Gamelan).

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2) BRIEF RESUME (1-2 pages or more if you wish):

All participants, including auditors

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Your resume must be uploaded as a PDF to Google Drive (or a similar hosting service that does not require one to sign up for an account or permissions). Please enter your resume into the online application via a link. Please include a list of works (composers and composer/performers) and information about your performing experience, especially in new music ensembles (composer/performers, performers and conductors).

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3) SCORES (Instrumental Music [western & non-western instruments] for symposium concerts)

Composers (Category I) and Composer/Performers (Category II)

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If you wish to compose a piece for the Composition Projects, then please submit at least 2-3 representative works, preferably scored for 1-6 players each. It is to your advantage to send as much music as you wish in different instrumental combinations to be considered for performance in the symposium.

 

All scores must be uploaded as PDFs to Google Drive, or to a similar hosting service that does not require one to sign up for an account or permissions. Please enter each score into the online application via a link. ​

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4) FILMS AND VIDEOS — Composers Film Festival

Open to all applicants​

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If you would like to show a film or films at the symposium, then please submit films in either or both of the following categories:

 

4A) Films or videos for which you have composed music;

 

4B) Films that you have created yourself as a filmmaker, for which you may or may not have composed music. 

 

You may provide links for up to three films in the genres of film music, video game music, and/or other audio-visual genres. You will have the opportunity to provide a link to your film(s) on the application form. Please submit a link to your film(s) via a streaming platform such as Youtube or Vimeo (that does not require signing up for an account or to use cookies), and please list its title, duration, genre, and any honors received. 

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PLEASE NOTE: The OBFCS Film Festival is open to all applicants. Participation in the Composers Film Festival does not exclude you from having your music performed in the other categories of the symposium as described above.

 

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5) AUDIO and/or VIDEO RECORDINGS:

All participants, except auditors

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All audio recordings should be uploaded to Google Drive, or to a similar file hosting service that does not require signing up for an account or special permission. All video recordings must be uploaded to a streaming platform such as YouTube or Vimeo (that does not require signing up for an account or permissions). Please enter the links to your audio and/or video recordings into the online application.

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RECORDINGS OF COMPOSITIONS—Composers (Category I) and Composer/Performers (Category II)

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Please provide a recording of each of your submitted scores or a MIDI representation if you do not have a live recording.

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PERFORMANCE RECORDINGS [audio and/or video recordings]—Composer/Performers (Category II), Performers (Category III), Conductors (Category IV), and Pre-existing Ensembles (Category VIII)

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Please provide audio and/or video recordings of at least two representative works in contrasting styles (solo and/or ensemble music) that reveal your abilities as a conductor, vocalist and/or instrumentalist. It would be helpful if at least one of the pieces that you include is a performance of your own music, but it is not mandatory.

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PLEASE NOTE: You may apply as an instrumentalist (western &/or non-western instruments), as a vocalist, or both.

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Step III: Please Fill Out the Online Application Form and Submit Your Application Materials

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Please complete the Google Form that is linked below by clicking on the aqua box. If you need to report any trouble completing the online form, please contact Hannah Fulton at obfcomposers@gmail.com.

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Please submit all application materials via the online application form by:

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APPLICATION DEADLINE:

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025

(Receipt Deadline)

Questions or Concerns About the Application Process

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Please direct any questions about the application process to:

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Robert Kyr, Symposium Director
rkyr@uoregon.edu

541-870-1099

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Hannah Fulton, Assistant to the Director
obfcomposers@gmail.com

© 2025 by Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium

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