Inspire - Young Composers' Competition 2013
Further information about the competition
Details of the 2013 Inspire Sessions - free composition workshops taking place nationwide
The 2013 Competition is now open!
INSPIRE 2013 - What is the Inspire scheme?
- Inspire 2013
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"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage, Composer, 1912 - 1992Now in its fifteenth year, the BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition provides a platform for budding composers aged 12 to 18 years old across the UK, providing what most composers only dream of - the chance to have their music played by professional musicians, performed at the BBC Proms and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Best of all, it’s all free!
You can also participate in our nationwide Inspire Sessions. Inspire Sessions are free and offer you the chance to have professional musicians play your music and get expert advice from leading composers in a day of music making, exploration and discovery. Attending one of these workshops is a great way to give you an inspirational kick start if you’re thinking of entering our Young Composers competition or just want to try composing for the first time.
"Having attended one of the Composer Labs, where I thoroughly enjoyed a day of exploring music making, I decided to enter a piece... Hearing my piece played by professional musicians has been the best experience of my life so far. I'm now tremendously excited about the mentor scheme that accompanies the commission; there is simply nowhere else a young composer can gain access to such fantastic opportunities."
George Rimmer, Inspire Young Composers Competition Winner 2011.
The BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition is now open for 2013. You can contact us with any questions at promslearning@bbc.co.uk or call 020 7765 0557.
COMPETITION DETAILS
• If you are a composer aged between 12 and 18, we want to hear from you!
• Enter your own, original piece of music - no more than five minutes long - to the BBC Proms judging panel.
• The prestigious BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition will give you an unrivalled opportunity to have your music performed by professional musicians, heard at the BBC Proms and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
• Whatever your style and inspiration, we want to hear it!
THE PRIZE
• Winners will be given a unique opportunity to wrok with live musicians in a concert or studio setting to bring their piece of music to life.
• The pieces will be recorded for broadcast on Radio 3 and will be performed at the BBC Proms Young Composers Concert.
• You will also be given a BBC commission for a high profile event.
Download an entry form for the competition
TIPS
• We are looking for music that is original, unique and inspiring. It can be completely innovative or can use the music and ideas of the past to inspire new and exciting pieces of music. We want to find composers who break the rules and who challenge and entertain the audience.
• There are no restrictions on the type of music you can enter - whatever your style and inspiration, we want to hear it! The only condition is that it has to be written down, as someone else will perform it if you get to the final.
HOW TO ENTER - WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
• Submit a piece of original music to the Proms judging panel
• There are no restrictions on instrumentation, which may include acoustic and/or electronic instruments and computer-generated sounds.
• Entries should last no longer than 5 minutes
• A completed entry form must also be included. Download an entry form here, or call 020 7765 0557 or email promslearning@bbc.co.uk. to request a form
• Entries must include two identical CD recordings of the piece along with two copies of
EITHER:
A notated, graphic or tabbed score
OR
A written description
• CD recordings can be taken directly from notation software packages or sequencing software or can be live recordings of your work.
WHERE TO SEND IT:
BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers' Competition,
Room 1045, BBC Broadcasting House
London, W1A 1AA.
RULES
• Entrants may enter only one composition and it must be entirely their own work. Entries composed with someone else will not be accepted
• Scores or written descriptions should be submitted on single-sided A4 paper, unbound and in a clear plastic folder.
• Entries cannot be returned so please remember to keep a copy.
DEADLINE
• The closing date for entries is 27 May 2013. Any entries received after this date will not be entered in the competition.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
• Please read the Terms and Conditions
ENTRY FORM
Download an entry form for the competition
THE JUDGES
Our judging panel reflects the wide variety of music played at the BBC Proms each year and includes composers, musicians, broadcasters and music industry professionals who are passionate about finding and developing new young talent.
This year's judging panel will be announced soon.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
BBC PROMS INSPIRE YOUNG COMPOSERS COMPETITION
TERMS AND CONDITIONS 2013
1. The competition is open to UK residents (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands) only. Overseas entries will not be considered. Entrants will be judged in two categories, the first for those aged between 12 and 16 at the closing date, and the second for those aged between 17 and 18 year old at the closing date. Entrants under 16 must provide signed consent from a parent or guardian.
2. The competition is not open to employees of, or the close relatives of employees of the BBC, their agencies or anyone else connected with the creation or administration of the Competition.
3. Entries must be sent by post to: BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers Competition, Room 1045, BBC Broadcasting House, London W1A 1AA. Entries must include two identical CD recordings of the piece along with two copies of EITHER:
• A notated, graphic or tabbed score – this should show the judges exactly what happens in your piece. You could use traditional music notation, tab for specific instruments or create a detailed graphic score using symbols. You should present your score on single-sided A4 paper using as many sheets as necessary
• A written description - this should give us as much information as possible about how your music should be played and by whom. You may wish to include diagrams to help explain your work. You should include information about the structure of the piece describing each section of the music, what the instruments do and how they relate to each other on no more than 3 single-sided A4 sheets.
4. A completed entry form (which can be downloaded from bbc.co.uk/proms) must also be included. On the form you must state:
• The origin (website, book, poem etc) of any text you have used
• The origin (website, sequencing package etc) of any pre-programmed audio or MIDI loops - any samples and loops used must be royalty-free and not taken from commercial recordings. Please state clearly how and where these appear in your piece.
5. Entries should last no longer than 5 minutes and scores or written descriptions should be submitted on single-sided A4 paper, unbound and in a clear plastic folder. There are no restrictions on instrumentation, which may include acoustic and/or electronic instruments and computer-generated sounds. Recordings can be taken directly from notation software packages or sequencing software or can be live recordings of your work. Entries cannot be returned so please remember to keep a copy.
6. Entrants must provide the BBC with names and addresses and other contact details, which will be handled by the BBC in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. The BBC will only ever use your personal details for the purposes of administering this competition. Your personal details will only be kept for as long as necessary. Please see the BBC Privacy Policy. (www.bbc.co.uk/privacy)
7. Entrants may enter only one composition which must be entirely their own work. If entrants submit more than one entry only the first entry will be judged and all other entries will be disregarded.
8. The deadline for receiving entries is 6pm on Monday 27 May 2013. Submissions received after this time will not be considered. For the avoidance of doubt, as your entry is submitted by post, your entry must reach us by no later than 6pm on 27 May 2013.
9. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
a) Compositional idea
b) Originality
c) Creativity
d) Appropriate technical ability
10. Entries will be judged through the following process:
Stage One
* Entries (score/written description and CD recording) will be sent to two of four first stage judges with enough time for each judge to create a short list of entries based on the criteria outlined above.
* Each judge is asked to shortlist a maximum of up to fifteen entries.
Stage Two
* The four shortlists will then be collated and the four stage one judges will be joined by two further judges.
* All six judges will then listen to the shortlisted entries in alphabetical order. Judges cannot reveal their own stage one preferences before entries are seen and heard by all judges.
* Winners and highly commended entrants will then by decided after discussion and agreement amongst judges based on the criteria outlined above. If any clarification needs to be sought at this stage in relation to the score/written description or recorded of the piece the entrant will be contacted at this stage.
11. There will be up to three winners and up to five highly commended entrants in each category.
12. Winners will have their winning entries performed by professional musicians and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 (subject to technical and operational possibility). Winners will also be given the opportunity to compose a new piece of music especially for the BBC Proms (i.e. they will receive a commission from the BBC Proms) which may be included at the Proms festival and broadcast by the BBC (subject to quality, suitability and technical and operational possibility). They will attend workshop days with the Proms team and professional composers to work on their commissioned composition. The commission is part of the prize and therefore winners will not be paid for the commission. Winners under the age of 16 must be accompanied to and from the workshops by an adult. The BBC will refund reasonable travel costs to and from the workshops.
13. Highly commended entrants may also have their entries broadcast and will be invited to attend workshop days. Highly commended entrants under the age of 16 must be accompanied to and from the workshops by an adult. The BBC will refund reasonable travel costs to and from the workshops.
14. The BBC's decision as to who the winners and the commended finalists are will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
15. Winners and highly commended entrants will be contacted personally by email, telephone or by mail by the end of June 2013. If a winner is unable to be contacted after reasonable attempts are made the BBC reserves the right to offer their prize to a highly commended entrant.
16. The prize must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. There will be no cash alternatives.
17. Entrants supplying recordings/scores/written descriptions and those who receive commissions from the BBC agree to grant the BBC an exclusive licence to use such entries and commissions in all media for all the purposes of the competition including without limitation transmission on radio and streaming on the internet and making copies or new recordings, if required. In connection with BBC's planned usage of the entries and commissions, entrants must ensure that: a) works submitted are original b) any other musicians performing have agreed to it being used for all purposes of the competition - but please note professional musicians' performances on entries and commissions broadcast / streamed on the internet will be dealt with in accordance with the BBC's agreements with the Musicians' Union or under such other arrangements as normally apply.
18. Entrants must warrant that their entries are original, entirely their own work and do not infringe copyright or other third party rights.
19. The BBC does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the postal service. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
20. Entrants must supply full details as required above, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the prize. No responsibility is accepted for ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently.
21. The BBC reserves the right to cancel this competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, or if circumstances arise outside of its control.
22. Entrants are reminded that participation in BBC competitions including winning (or as in this competition, entries being rated as highly commended) cannot be used in commercial advertising or promotions, to attract external funding, to lobby or campaign, or to attract donations.
23. The BBC cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem with any server, internet access system, the post or otherwise which may result in any entry being lost or not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
24. Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition. Winning entrants will be expected to take part in post-competition publicity if required.
25. These rules are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
26. This competition accords with the BBC's Code of Conduct for Competitions and Voting, details of which can be found at: BBC Competitions Policy (www.bbc.co.uk/competitioncode)
