NOTUS Student Composition Contest

The NOTUS Student Composition Contest is an initiative of choral conducting faculty member Dominick DiOrio, which continues the program started by the late Carmen-Helena Tellez to bring new choral-vocal works by IU students to performance.

UPDATE FOR FALL 2025: All current undergraduate and graduate students studying composition in the Jacobs School of Music are invited to apply for the chance to have an original work recorded with NOTUS in the Joshi Recording Studio during late October 2025. (A live performance and premiere will not be possible this year.)

We anticipate choosing between 3-6 composers for the prize this year, allowing more opportunity to have student composers’ prize-winning scores recorded than in previous years. Prize-winning works may be performed in a future academic year (Fall 2026 and forward) at the discretion of Prof. DiOrio.

Work Guidelines
–      Mixed chorus SATB preferred, but divisi up to eight parts (SSAATTBB) acceptable.
–      Submitted works may be a cappella or have between 1 and 5 accompanying instruments.
–      Approximate duration to be no longer than five minutes.
–      Both unperformed works and works that have not received a significant professional premiere are welcome.
–      Permission to set text must be demonstrated for texts not in the public domain.

Please see this Quick Guide of Best Practices to aid you in writing for NOTUS

Submission
All submissions will be done via email. Scores should be submitted anonymously. Names must not appear on the score. In an email to ddiorio@iu.edu, please submit the following:

–      Preferred Name (for program/press release)
–      Degree / Major Teacher
–      Telephone number
–      A PDF copy of the score, without any identifying information.
–      A program note for the submitted work.
–      A current bio (approx. 150-200 words)
–      A headshot (hi-resolution, suitable for web and printing)
–      A short letter or email sent from your current composition teacher sent to ddiorio@iu.edu regarding the work and their approval for submission.

Deadline for submission: Monday, September 29, 2025 at Noon ET

Procedure

–      A panel of judges with expertise in voice, conducting and composition will review the submitted scores. Professor DiOrio will not be one of the judges. The judges’ decision is final.
–      The judges reserve the right to award no prize if a suitable work is not found.
–      The winning composer and work will be announced in early October 2025.

Prize

–      NOTUS will record the work in the Joshi Recording Studio on either October 27, 28, or 30 from 2:55-4:15pm.
–      The winning composer will receive a recording from the session for their personal and professional use.
–      The winning composer may attend the recording session and at least one chorus rehearsal prior to the session.

Any questions about the NOTUS Student Composition Contest should be directed to Prof. Dominick DiOrio at: ddiorio@iu.edu

No prizes were awarded for the 2021 contest year.

2020 Winners
First Place: John William Griffith ll first light
Second Place: Leigha Amick Night Sky Songs
Honorable Mention: Jake Cozza Time Traveller
Honorable Mention: Yuseok Seol Dulce et Deorum Est

2019 Winners
First Place: Katherine Bodor Assurance
Second Place: Jeff Sabol Confiteor
Honorable Mention: ErikQ. Ransom The Sick Rose
Honorable Mention: Matt Ridge Reverence
Honorable Mention: Sam Ritter The Glorious Imparting

2018 Winners
First Prize: Jake Gunnar Walsh I See Words in Color
Second Prize: Katherine Bodor Two Songs of Solitude
Honorable Mention: John William Griffith Gloria
Honorable Mention: Jamie Kunselman Requiem for a Light

2017 Winners
First Prize: Christopher LaRosa Jesus Wept
Second Prize: Nathan Stang O Felix Anima
Third Prize: Matthew Recio Echo
Honorable Mention: John William Griffith Comme Je Trouve
Honorable Mention: Kathryn Jorgensen Un Paseo Por La Oscuridad

2016 Winners
First Prize: Matthew Recio How to Survive Vesuvius
Second Prize: Christopher LaRosa Breath
Honorable Mention: Nicholas Chuaqui Infinity
Honorable Mention: Felipe Tovar-Henao Oh, misteriosa alma mía

American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Prize: Alex Berko Forgiven Tears

2015 Winners
First Prize: Corey Rubin After-Glow
Honorable Mention: Paul Mortilla O Magnum Mysterium
Honorable Mention: Maxwell Ramage We’ll to the woods no more

2014 Winners
First Prize: Patricia Wallinga Portraits of Wartime
Second Prize: Phillip Sink Fire and Ice
Honorable Mention: Yihan Chen Immolation
Honorable Mention: Steven Snethkamp Substance is Eternal

2013 Winners
First Prize: Carlo Vincetti Frizzo Nightscape
Honorable Mention: Joshua Clampitt After a Dream
Honorable Mention: Louis Goldford Vanishing Points