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.
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 premiered and recorded with NOTUS during a major concert in the Spring 2025 semester or in the following academic year.
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.
– New for this year: 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@indiana.edu regarding the work and their approval for submission.
Deadline for submission: Monday, October 28, 2024 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 by January 2025.
Prize
– NOTUS will perform the prize-winning work(s) in either the Spring 2025 or Fall 2025 semester, as appropriate.
– The winning composer will receive a recording of the premiere performance.
– The winning composer may attend the concert and dress rehearsals.
Any questions about the NOTUS Student Composition Contest should be directed to Prof. Dominick DiOrio at: ddiorio@iu.edu
2025 Winners
First Prize: Jieun Ok Nil-ri-ri-ya
Second Prize: Courage Barda & Eli Hocking La Mandoline
Honorable Mention: Jamey Guzman Raise Her Up
2024 Winners
First Prize: Erin Blake Gacela de la muerte oscura
Second Prize: Daniel Jingyang Cui Jasmine Flower
Honorable Mention: Jamey Guzman Connections
Honorable Mention: Isaac Smith Prayer for Rain
Honorable Mention: Woodrow Murray Sanctus
Honorable Mention: Ye-chong Jeon An der Ecke
2023 Winners
First Prize: Kian Ravaei Blue
Second Prize: Courage Barda so much depends
Third Prize (tie): Hunter T. Johnson beati qui esuriunt
Third Prize (tie): Thejas Mirle Du Silbana Datia
Honorable Mention: Erin Blake There Worketh a Spell
Honorable Mention: Yao Hsiao Old Pond
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