Chinese Music Without Bounds – International Composition Competition

A Prospectus

1. Aims, Objectives and Introduction

Historically, music developed through the continuous input of original compositions. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra has been dedicated to the encouragement of new works for Chinese orchestra. The orchestration of the works is regarded as the core concern. In this international competition, all restrictions regarding nationality, background and age have been lifted in order to promote the concept of the world being ‘a global village’, hence the theme ‘Music Without Bounds’. The aim is to discover talented composers and offer them a platform for showcasing their works and for exchange.

2. Eligibility

1. This competition is open to all, with no restrictions on age or nationality.

2. The composition submitted must be a new work written within the last three years, has not been awarded any prize and has not been publicly released.

3. If a contestant is entering both ‘Orchestra’ and ‘Solo and Orchestra’ sections, only one entry is allowed for each section.

3. Closing Date for Entries

All entries should be accompanied by a duly filled-in Entry Form, together with the necessary information as stated above, and sent by mail to: The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, 7/F, Sheung Wan Municipal Services Building, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong, not later than 31st October, 2016 (by postmark date). Please mark on the envelope ‘International Composition Competition 2017’.

Download Application form.

4. Content of the Work

1. The work submitted must be an original composition.

2. The work can be either written for orchestra or for solo and orchestra.*

3. Solo instrument may be one (and only one) of the following:

(1) Wind: dizi, sheng, suona, guan

(2) Bowed-string: gaohu, erhu, zhonghu, gehu and bass gehu

(3) Plucked-string: zheng, pipa, xiaoruan, zhongruan, daruan, sanxian

(4) Percussion: dagu (Chinese big drum), paigu (set of 5 rotodrums), sanmianluo (set of 3 gongs [not tuned]), muyu (set of 5 temple blocks)**

4. Works on Hong Kong themes should be specified upon application.

* Since the work should be written for a full-scale orchestra, it is advisable not to use amplification for solo instruments.

** The contestant may use all, or any combination of the above instruments.

Configuration of the Orchestra

Range Table

Instrument Demonstration

5. Awards and Prizes

6. Adjudication

1. The entry work should be scored for a full-size Chinese orchestra, in accordance with the configurations provided by the HKCO (for details, please refer to ‘Configuration of the Orchestra’), and must not exceed its stipulated number of musicians and musical instruments. In writing for the percussion section, please restrict to six parts as there are only six percussionists in the HKCO. Please indicate each part clearly on the full score by using the numbers 1 to 6.

2. The duration of the work should be between 6 to 15 minutes. There is no restriction on the number of movements.

3. The Adjudication Committee will select the finalists and winners from the entries. In the event that the Adjudication Committee decide that the entries for a specific category fail to meet the requirements that qualify them for awards, the Organizer reserves the right to consider the awards falling vacant.

4. All decisions of the Panel of Judges on the results of the competition will be final.5. All works selected for the final competition will be performed at HKCO’s concert at the 2017 Hong Kong Arts Festival for final adjudication.

7. Copyright of the Original Works

1. For all entries selected in the competition, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra reserves the right to have first priority to broadcast, publish and release the works (in both recording and score versions) within two years after the close of the competition, without the need to pay the contestants any fees.

2. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra shall have the right to make video or sound recordings of the entries played during the competition. All such audio-visual products shall be used for non-commercial, promotional purposes.

8. Notes to all contestants

1. Information to be submitted by each contestant:

(1) Entry Form duly and clearly filled in, with two recent photographs of 3.5 X 5 cm, and a photocopy of your ID Card (or passport).

(2) A sound or video recording of the entry work. (Not compulsory, but this would facilitate the Judges as reference).

(3) The full score should be saved in a CD in PDF and a Sibelius 7 (or older version), or Finale2014 (or older version) formats, and submitted together with the other documents when sending in the Entry Form.

(4) 2 copies of A3 size scores notated in western states system, using the configuration of instruments of HKCO specified on p. 45.

(5) The duration, tempi, meaning of symbols used, or notes for special requirements for performance etc. should all be clearly indicated on the full score.

(6) No contestant’s name or similar information should appear on the full score.

2. All works submitted by contestants shall not be retrieved, revised or substituted with another after the closing date. However, the Organizer reserves the right to discuss with the composers concerned on matters of technicality and on revisions thereof.

3. In the event that there is more than one winner for a prize in any category, the prize money shall be shared in equal parts by the winners concerned. (The Organizer reserves the final right of decision.)

4. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra owns the right for global broadcast / telecast and priority for publication and release of all works shortlisted.

5. The copyright of the winning work is owned by the composer. Any music ensemble that intends to perform the work must state in its house programme that it is a winning work in this competition.

6. Works that are not awarded any prizes but demonstrate outstanding quality may be chosen for performance by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in future concerts, subject to Arrangements

7. In the event that an entry is found to contain plagiarized content, it will be disqualified even if it has been shortlisted or awarded. The contestant submitting the said plagiarized work will be required to return the trophy, prize money etc. to the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

8. For more information on the instruments for Chinese orchestra as well as demonstration clips, please visit the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s website www.hkco.org.

9. In case of dispute, the Organizer’s decision shall be final.10. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra shall not be held liable for any lawsuits arising from Item 7. It shall be the liability of the contestant concerned.

9.　Supporting Organizations

（Names in the order of Chinese names listing ）

Shanghai Conservatory of Music

Central Conservatory of Music

Chinese Culture University – Department of Chinese Music

China Nationalities Orchestra Society

Chinese Music Association, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Tianjin Conservatory of Music

Xian Conservatory of Music

Asian Composers League

Wuhan Conservatory of Music – Chinese Traditional Instruments Department

Society of Finnish Composers

Xinghai Conservatory of Music

Music College of Capital Normal University

HKU SPACE Centre for Creative and Performing Arts

The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Department of Music

Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Limited

Hong Kong Composers’ Guild

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Hong Kong Baptist University – Department of Music

The Hong Kong Institute of Education

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts - College of Music

Society of Malaysian Contemporary Composers

National Taiwan University of Arts - Chinese Music Department

Tainan National University of the Arts - College of Music

International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong)

Association of Composers (Singapore)

Singapore Chinese Music Federation

Xinjiang Normal University

Fu Jen Catholic University - Music Department

Luxembourg Society for Contemporary Music

ShenYang Conservatory of Music – Chinese Instruments Department