Gaudeamus Award 2022
DEADLINE FOR THE GAUDEAMUS AWARD WAS 1 OCTOBER 2021 23:59 CET
You can now register for the Gaudeamus Award 2022. Because the Award was not held in 2021, composers younger than 36 can register. Composers of any nationality or background who were born after 11 September 1985 may enter their works. Works may already have been performed but must be composed no more than 4 years ago.
We ask you to submit 3 pieces:
1. Your main entry must fit in one of the 4 categories (see below)
2&3. Two additional pieces to show the breadth of your practice as a composer, that do not have to fit in any of the categories.
Additionally, we provide the option to submit a 4th piece for orchestra if you want to showcase your orchestral work. This piece will not be performed during the Gaudeamus Festival but might be selected to be performed by the Residentie Orkest The Hague during a concert in Amare in The Hague on a later date after the festival.
Four composers will be nominated for the Award. The nominees will be part of the Gaudeamus Festival 2022 (7-11 September). On the final night of the festival the winner of the Award will be chosen by an independent jury. The price consists of a commission worth €5,000 for a new composition to be premiered at a future edition of the Gaudeamus Festival. The nominees’ main entries for the competition as well as additional submitted pieces will be performed during the festival. They will also be commissioned to develop a new piece especially for the festival.
Please carefully read the information below and the terms and conditions before submitting!
Pay attention when submitting your work:
- If you want to submit a video instead of audio, please do so by providing a link in the comment section to a Youtube video or a video hosted elsewhere: please pay attention that the video has to be anonymous and not contain your name.
- When providing a score, make sure that your name is crossed out everywhere.
CATEGORY 1 | OPEN CATEGORY
Music installations or solo works with or without electronics, the use of video and / or (live-) electronics is encouraged. Up to 12 musicians/performers everything is possible, but within this category we’re not looking for regular ensemble pieces.
CATEGORY 2 | INSTALLATIONS
Sensory installation combining aural, tactile, olfactory, and visual elements, to be displayed at the sound art exhibition Senses Working Overtime or other contexts during the Gaudeamus Festival.
CATEGORY 3 | SMALL ELECTRIC ENSEMBLES
Possible ensembles: Ensemble Klang | Kluster5 | more to be announced
Instrumentation to be selected from: 2 saxophones (all types), 1 trombone (tenor/alto), 1 piano (or keyboard), 1 percussion, 1 violin, 1 clarinet, 1 cello, 1 flute and 1 electric guitar (or electric bass guitar). Amplification and electronics are possible.
CATEGORY 4 | SMALL & LARGE ENSEMBLE (+ SOLOIST)
Possible ensembles: Asko|Schönberg | Insomnio | New European Ensemble | Riot Ensemble | International Ensemble Modern Academy | more to be announced
Maximum number of players is 16; the minimum number of players is 6. One (1) soloist is possible. Amplification and electronics are possible.
Instruments: 1 flute (+ picc, alto, bass), 1 clarinet (+ bass), 1 oboe, 1 bassoon (no cbsn), 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 French horn, 1 tuba, 1 guitar (electric + acoustic), 1 percussionist, 1 piano (harmonium), 1 harp, 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 double bass.
EXTRA CATEGORY | ORCHESTRA
Orchestra: Residentie Orkest The Hague
Instrumentation to be selected from: 2 flutes (1 piccolo possible), 2 oboes (1 alt oboe possible), 2 clarinets (1 can be es clarinet or bass clarinet), 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones (1 possible bass trombone), 1 tuba, 1 timpani, 2 percussion, 1 harp, 12 first violins, 10 second violins, 8 violas, 6 celli, 4 double bass
Nominees
A maximum of 4 composers will be nominated for the Gaudeamus Award. From all nominated composers the main entry (category piece) will be shortlisted for the competition. The other two pieces by the selected composers will also be performed if possible. This provides the nominees with an opportunity to demonstrate other aspects of their talents instead of being judged solely on the basis of a single work.
Jury
For the 2022 Award, we are thrilled to announce the following jury members: American composer Ted Hearne, Irish composer Ann Cleare and Chinese-American composer Huang Ruo. The jury selection will be announced in November 2021.
Academy 2022
In the week before the Gaudeamus festival (7-11 September 2022), the 4 nominated composers will work with the ensembles on their newly commissioned works and rehearse the selected works during the Gaudeamus Academy. Members of the jury will facilitate discussions between composers and musicians. The Gaudeamus Academy will be devoted to the composers in the interest of research, reflection, and development, but will also feature meetings and workshops open to the public.
Career Support
After the festival, Gaudeamus will continue to support the nominated composers. Selected works may be performed elsewhere, and composers will be regularly involved in festivals and co-productions with other organizations. The intention is to further the career development of young composers.
Registration fee & accommodation
The registration fee for the competition is € 35. After you are selected, accommodation and participation in the festival are free of charge. Also, the travel costs to and from Utrecht will be reimbursed to the participant.
If for any reason, the registration fee is an obstacle that is preventing you from partaking in this call, please contact us via gaudeamusaward@gaudeamus.nl and we will see how we can accommodate you.
Questions
If you have any questions about the registration, please contact us via gaudeamusaward@gaudeamus.nl
About the Gaudeamus Award
The annual Gaudeamus Festival focuses on music by young composers. Although the first Gaudeamus Festival (then named Muziekweek), staged shortly after World War II, was devoted to Dutch composers only, the Muziekweek was soon open to composers worldwide. Each year new works by composers are presented, with emphasis on young composers and music pioneers. The Gaudeamus Award was first awarded in 1957 to Peter Schat. The Gaudeamus Award, as of 2015 is a commission of €5,000 for new work, meant as a help in the career of the composer. This commissioned work will premiere in a future edition of Gaudeamus Festival. Since 2014 the festival is preceded by the Gaudeamus Academy. All winners of the Gaudeamus Award are mentioned in the Gaudeamus Hall of Fame.