Suzhou Symphony Orchestra

2021 Suzhou Jinji Lake Composition Competition

1 INTRODUCTION

The year of 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. To keep pace with the times and promote music composition, the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra encourages composers to create original works and celebrate the new era with moving melodies.

The 2021 Suzhou Jinji Lake Composition Competition invites composers to submit original works which combine Western composition techniques with idioms of Suzhou’s cultural heritage that represent the aesthetics and styles of Suzhou’s traditional culture. In the hope of creating new works that symbolize the Suzhou characterized by “two alluring and contrasting visages” – an ancient civilized society and a modern energized city – which complement each other and is aptly expressed by the single motto “the double-sided embroidered silk of Suzhou”, the Competition aims to encourage composers to explore approaches that innovate and inform their work, to create works that impact the artistic currents of contemporary China, and to contribute to Suzhou Symphony Orchestra’s own repertoire and Suzhou’s musical patrimony.

2 COMPETITION COMMITTEE

2.1 Sponsor: 

2.2 Suzhou New Era Culture and Expo Group

2.3 Suzhou Symphony Orchestra

2.4 Competition Advisory Committee will be formed and announced.

2.5 Jury: Composers, experts and artists of international renown

2.6 Competition Organizing Committee:

2.7 Guangxian Chen / Mengdong Xu / CHEN Xieyang / XU Zhong / Vicky Zhou

3 RULES , ELIGIBILITY AND SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

3.1 Compositions should reflect the contemporary spirit, the traditional flavors and atmospheres of Suzhou, while demonstrating innovation, accessibility and originality.

3.2 Submitted compositions can be

· Either orchestral works composed within the last three years that meet the above qualities but have not been published, publicly performed, or previously entered into competitions;

· Or orchestral works composed specifically for the Jinji Lake Composition Competition guided by the above-mentioned characteristics.

3.3 Works should be written for orchestra or for a solo instrument (both Chinese traditional or Western instrument) and orchestra with instrumentation no larger than 3333 – 4331 – Timp+3 – Hp – Str. No use of electronic music and means is accepted.

3.4 The duration of the work must be between 8 and 12 minutes and should be displayed on the instrumentation page.

3.5 Composers of all ages are eligible to enter the Competition.

3.6 Composers of all nationalities are eligible to enter the Competition.

3.7 Each composer is allowed to submit only one work.

3.8 There is no entry fee.

3.9 Interested composers should submit:

· A legible full score in both PDF format and two bound hardcopies printed in B4 size, which conform to standard engraving rules. The score must not contain the composer’s name or any marking unrelated to the music on the cover page or in any other part of the score. Non-compliance will result in disqualification.

· A completed and signed application form (please download the application form from the official website of Suzhou Symphony Orchestra).

· A biography with current address, email address and phone number, in either Chinese or English.

· A brief and clear description of the composition not to exceed 200 Chinese words or 500 English words.

· A copy of passport or national ID that contains the applicant’s photo and date of birth.

3.10 Submission deadline is March 31, 2021 at 17:00 Beijing time, for PDF via email and for bound hardcopies with post-mark date. 

3.11 Finalists are required to submit PDF of scores by email to the committee within 7 days of receiving the notification.

3.12 Non-compliance with any of the above stipulation will disqualify the applicant. Members of the jury and advisory committee are not eligible to submit. All materials will be archived by the sponsoring organization and will not be returned to the applicant.

3.13 For questions and queries, please contact:

Yinyun Shi/Cynthia Gu

Telephone: +86 (0)512 62899504;  +86 (0)512 62899906

Email: competition@suzhousso.com

Website: www.suzhousso.com

Address: Suzhou Symphony Orchestra

Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre 2^nd Floor

No. 1 Guan Feng Street

Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou

Postal Code: 200028

Attention: 2021 Jinji Lake Composition Competition Committee

4 COMMISSIONS

The 2021 Jinji Lake Composition Competition Committee will be commissioning several well-known and well-established Chinese and Non-Chinese composers for works that express and reflect the above creative parameters. These works are not entries in the Competition and not subject to any award adjudication or scoring. These commissioned works will be rehearsed and performed separately from those submitted for the Competition.

5 ADJUDICATION

5.1 To ensure equality and fairness, all submissions will be designated with a number for identification. No composer’s name will be revealed or displayed at any point during the reviewing and adjudication process.

5.2 The Competition will take place in two stages: the pre-screening stage and the final stage. A pre-screening panel will review all submissions and invite six (6) submissions to participate in the final stage in Suzhou. The final stage will culminate in a concert performed by the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra in which the jury will adjudicate and award the winners. The jury reserves the right not to issue award(s) in the absence of compositions meriting the award.

5.3 All travel and hotel expenses for the six finalists invited to Suzhou will be paid for by the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra.

6 AWARDS

First Prize 100,000 RMB

Second Prize 60,000 RMB

Third Prize 30,000 RMB

Honorable Mention 5,000 RMB

(All prize monies are pre-tax)

7 SCHEDULE

June 16, 2021 

19:30: New works to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party — Opening concert of commissioned works at the SCAC Grand Theatre

June 19, 2021

19:30: Final Stage Concert at the Jinji Lake Concert Hall

21:00: Awards Ceremony at the Jinji Lake Concert Hall

8 MISCELLANEOUS

8.1 Rights

· The winners and commissioned composers shall share the copyright with Suzhou Symphony Orchestra of the winning and commissioned compositions (hereinafter Composition).

· The winners and commissioned composers agree to concede to the Sponsor (Suzhou Symphony Orchestra) the following rights:

8.1..1 The Sponsor may record, photograph and videotape all performances of the Composition, all music and relevant materials.

8.1..2 The Sponsor retains the right to premier and give all future performances of the Composition at no additional compensation.

8.1..3 In any future performance of the Composition by any other organizations in any other venues, the full score cover page and all printed materials will bear the following wording:

“This work was the winning composition of (commissioned by) the 2021 Jinji Lake Composition Competition.”

8.2 The decision of the Competition Jury will be final. 

8.3 The Competition Committee reserves the right to make necessary modifications of this Prospectus without prior notification to the applicants.

9 The Competition Committee retains the sole and final interpretation of the provisions in this Prospectus.

Application Form_2021 Suzhou Jinji Lake Composition Competition.docx