competition



・The 25th JSCM Award for Composers (2008)


Since 1984, Japan Society for Contemporary Music (JSCM) has been providing 'JSCM Award for Composers' for new talent in the field of contemporary music composition, in order to support composers whose contribution to the development of yet new aspect of music we consider of not a little importance.

To achieve our purpose of finding out striking talents without compromise, the jury consists of a very small group of one chief juror and two other jurors, of whom the chief each year is selected by JSCM, and the other two are appointed by the selected chief. Subjects and conditions for works to be submitted are set by each year's chief juror, so that the award will be characterized not by any superficial moderation, but by strikingly unique individuality --- unique new talent meeting the unique eye of a juror.

・Application for the 2008 Award

Chief Juror:

Toshi Ichiyanagi (JSCM Artistic Director, 2008)

Subject:

Crystal Clear Concept - True Life to Music
We wish to hear from each composer a clearest statement that brings true life into your music, for the following two reasons. Firstly, we see nowadays a lot of music fallen into a narrow hole of 'contemporary music', more or less blindfolded by existent (other people's) ways of thinking. Obscure as is the way out, we must return to our original starting point, Art, as a free, open statement, and thence go out into a new field, music significant for the society today. Secondly, we now seldom hear the primary question asked, 'Why on earth make music?' Let us wait for your questions, if not answers: not a flowery piece decorated with learned techniques, but just a first step outward, the excursion of clear will, which might some day turn into a grand exploration. (Toshi Ichiyanagi)

Instrumentation：

Instrumentation, for one to five players only, is to be selected by each applicant from the following: -


Duration：

The duration of the submitted pieces should be about 10 minutes, and MUST be within 15 minutes.

Award：

The 25th JSCM Award for Composers is given to the winner of the first prize, who will receive at the awards ceremony, the testimonial (certificate) and 150,000 Japanese Yen (which will be divided if there is more than one recipient).

Togashi Award ：

Togashi Award is given to the piece which derserves the award. The recipient will also be given a testimonial certificate and 100,000 Japanese Yen during the awards ceremony. The monetary award will be divided equally if there are more than one winners.

Deadline：

The pieces to be submitted MUST ARRIVE AT JSCM by Friday, 13 June [5 p.m.] , 2008, deadline.

Eligibility：

The applicant must not be a member of JSCM. A person of any age and nationality is eligible, but the winners of the previous JSCM Award for Composers can NOT apply.

Judgment / Performance：

The jury will select about four pieces by reading and comparing the scores. The selected pieces will be performed in the following concert, and the award-given piece(s) will be decided after a public debate.

JSCM - Autumn Exhibition of Contemporary Music 2008 - the 1st night
[The 25st JSCM Award for Composers Contest]

Friday, October 17, 2008 [7 p.m.]
Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall (Tokyo)

Jury：

Toshi Ichiyanagi (chief juror), Hitomi Kaneko, Ichiro Nodaira

Materials to be submitted：

The following materials must be submitted to the address below, either by mail or by the applicants themselves.

[1] The score(s) of the submitted piece(s) composed by the applicant. (See the conditions below.)

[2] All the following information (which can be written on either the application form at the back of our brochure, or any other sheet of paper).

  1. The name of the applicant (in block letter)
  2. The date of birth of the applicant
  3. A brief curriculum vitae of the applicant
  4. The title of the submitted piece(s), and the year(s) of the composition
  5. Program note
  6. Instrumentation
  7. Duration
  8. The postal address, telephone (and fax) number, and e-mail address of the applicant

[3] If the applicant would like the musician(s) whose help s/he had in the composition of the submitted piece to perform it in the award contest concert, s/he must attach the name, the profile, and the contact number (or address) of the musician(s). (However, the applicant must accept both the availability of the musician(s) and the decision of the jury in this matter. If the musician performs in the contest concert, the prescribed fee is to be paid.)

[4] A return envelope (of normal letter size), with the name and the postal address of the applicant written, and with the appropriate amount of postage stamps on (if from overseas, international postage stamps).

[5] Proof of the payment of the entry fee (a copy of note from the bank)



Entry Fee：

20,000 Japanese Yen included bank commission.

Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, Mejiro Branch,
Savings Account: 6360842
Swift Code: SMBC JP JT
Japan Society for Contemporary Music

http://www.smbc.co.jp/global/index.html

Postal Address for application：

Japan Society for Contemporary Music - The 25th Award for Composers - Yamaichi-Building 501, 2-5-7 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022, Japan (telephone / +81-3-3446-3506)

Conditions：

  1. The piece(s) to be submitted MUST NOT be previously performed at ANY public concert.
  2. Each applicant can submit as many pieces as s/he likes.
  3. Even if the piece was submitted for the JSCM Award for Composers in the previous years, it can be submitted again unless it won the Award before.
  4. Both the title of the piece and the name of the composer must be written on the score.
  5. The score must be either clearly photocopied in black, written in black ink, or printed out from computer (where an appropriate notation software is used).
  6. The applicant must keep a copy of the submitted piece in case any accident should happen.
  7. None of the materials submitted are to be returned to the applicants as a rule. Any applicant that would like any material returned MUST inform JSCM of that beforehand, when s/he must also send the postage.
  8. Once the score is submitted, any alteration or addition to it is not permitted as a rule.
  9. If the jury require the parts of the submitted score for the performance in the award contest concert, the applicant MUST prepare them.
  10. Once the entry fee is paid in, it will NOT be returned for ANY reason.

Any enquiry as to the information above should be made to JSCM by document (e-mail, fax, letter, etc.), with the contact number of the sender clearly written.


■JSCM headquarters (enquiry)

Japan Society for Contemporary Music
Yamaichi-Building 501, 2-5-7 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0022, Japan
e-mail /
fax / +81-3-3446-3507







・Call for Workshop Plans on Creative Music Activity


We have received a number of responses.
The examination results are as follows.

◎ Winners (four people)

Mika AJIFU, Bae Min Kyoung, Qu Wei, Sachiko YOSHIHARA,

◎ Noteworthy work (three people)

Haruhi OTOBE, Wakako NAGAOKA, Rie MURAKAMI (mofa)

The awards ceremony will be held on the 22 August 2008 during the 3rd Workshop-Leaders Group for Creative Music Activity.
The judge’s word is final.（No further arguments or discussions will be entertained in this regard.)


・Workshop Plans on Creative Music Activity


Host organization: The Workshop-Leaders Group for Creative Music Activity, Japan
Chair person: Katsuhiro Tsubonou, Composer and Vice president of Japan Society for Contemporary Music.

Applications for the workshop plans must include the following:


1. The workshop leader’s name as the principal applicant, and his/her nationality, contact address, e-mail address and a short biography (including whether the leader is a player, composer or music educator)


2. The title or theme of the workshop


3. A PDF file* detailing the activities of the workshop written within two A4-sized pages and approximately 1000 words in English or 1200 letters in Japanese should be submitted.

Requirements for the workshop plan:

1 The workshop already has been practiced by the leadership of the applicant before 31 March 2008.

2 Japanese or English will be acceptable

3 It is recommended that the explanation be provided not only in a written form, but also with musical notations or illustrations.

4 The plan should describe the following:
- Purpose of the workshop
- Number of participants (e.g. 20 children, 10 university students)
- Number of leaders and assistants
- Required instruments and equipments
- Progression and contents
- Results and effects

Deadline: No later than 30 May 2008

Results
- The results will be announced in the JSCM HP in mid June 2008.
- The prize money of 10,000 JPY will be paid by the host organization.
- The award ceremony will be held on 22 August 2008 in Tokyo.
- The winning plans will be published together as a book by the Japanese publisher ‘Mother Earth’. However, in such a case, the authors (the applicants) will have to contact the publisher directly.

Notes:
The host organization may request some revisions to the plan.
The file should be sent to the office at: