Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Spring 2025 31 MARGARET BLACKBURN 2025 BIENNIAL COMPOSITION COMPETITION A $1000 grand prize will be awarded to the female student composer who submits the winning musical composition in the 2025 Biennial Blackburn Memorial Composition Competition. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or graduate music program for the 2024-25 academic year. Compositions should be for a small ensemble of no less than two instruments, which may include voice, and no more than twelve instruments including voice. Works for instruments and electronic sounds, digital media, CD, interactive compositions, or works for electronic sounds alone can be included. No published scores will be accepted. The 2025 deadline for submissions is April 30, 2025. An entry fee of $35 (U.S.) is required. Membership in Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) is not required. To enter, please use the application form available at: https://bit.ly/blackburn25 Only one submission per person is allowed. Questions regarding specifics of the competition may be directed to saipittsburghalumnae@gmail.com. Please include "Blackburn" in the subject. DEADLINE: April 30, 2025 CONTACT: saipittsburghalumnae@gmail.com INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S BRASS CONFERENCE The International Women's Brass Conference is a time to celebrate music and build a community in support of women and gender-marginalized brass musicians. We are happy to be back in the United States and headed to the East Coast in Hartford, Connecticut hosted by the Hartt School. The 2025 Conference will bring together everything you love about an International Women's Brass Conference from the inclusive atmosphere, incredible performances, enriching presentations, and competitions for all with new and exciting events highlighting the talent of rising student stars in the brass world and celebrating the rich history of musicianship in this area of the country. Conference dates: May 19–24, 2025 WEBSITE: https://conference.myiwbc.org LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS 80TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE The 2025 League of American Orchestras National Conference is hosted by the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera. Our Conference theme, ASCEND, invites us to elevate our thinking and reach new heights together. These three days of learning, networking, and discovery will challenge us to build strong, sustainable bases for our organizations, navigate the terrain of changing audience expectations, consider the rapidly evolving national landscape, and chart courses to new horizons. Must be a member of the League of American Orchestras to attend. Conference dates: June 11–13, 2025 Early registration discount ends April 24, 2025 WEBSITE: www.leagueconference.org STRING ORCHESTRA RETREAT AT INTERLOCHEN Whether you're looking to improve your technique, learn new repertoire, or simply enjoy playing in a string ensemble, the String Orchestra Retreat offers an enriching and fulfilling experience. In this three-day program, you'll learn from world-renowned string faculty, perform in a public concert, and make long-lasting friendships with string enthusiasts from across the country. The program will feature master classes, daily ensemble rehearsals and sectionals, faculty/participant side-by-side performance opportunities, and social activities designed to build community among participants. Retreat dates: June 16–18, 2025 WEBSITE: https://bit.ly/stringretreat 2025 VIRTUAL STRING TEACHERS SUMMIT The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) hosts their annual Virtual String Teachers Summit. This year's theme is Sounds of Change: Navigating a Shifting Educational Landscape. Join this 2-day online, synchronous event to build tools, develop techniques, and connect with colleagues from around the country and the world. Event dates: July 14–15, 2025 Early registration discount ends April 30, 2025 WEBSITE: www.astastrings.org/site/2025-virtual-summit MACDOWELL FELLOWSHIP About 300 artists in seven disciplines are awarded Fellowships each year and the sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence. There are no residency fees, and need-based stipends and travel reimbursement grants are available to open the residency to the broadest possible community of artists. MacDowell encourages applications from artists of all backgrounds and all countries in the following disciplines: architecture, film/video arts, interdisciplinary arts, literature, music composition, theatre, and visual arts. Applications open now for Spring/Summer 2026 DEADLINE: September 10, 2025 WEBSITE: www.macdowell.org NATIONAL FEDERATION OF MUSIC CLUBS COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) offers more than $750,000 in competition and award prizes on the local, state and national level. The Biennial Young Artist and Ellis Duo-Pianists competitions award a total of $92,000 in awards and two years of performance bookings. Additional competitions are sponsored by the Federation in a wide range of categories, including voice, instrumental music, composition, dance, conducting, handicapped and visually impaired, and music therapy. NFMC also sponsors more than 38 annual and biennial awards for students desiring to attend the 20 sponsored Summer Music Centers. WEBSITE: www.nfmc-music.org/competitions-awards MUSICAL AMERICA WORLDWIDE JOBS CENTER A regularly updated catalog of job opportunities in the fields of music and the arts. WEBSITE: https://jobs.musicalamerica.com Otunities

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