Sigma Alpha Iota

OPPORTUNITIES The Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble Commission Award The Sorel Medallion Choral Composition Contest The Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble at Montana State University is pleased to announce the Electric Monster Laptop Ensemble Commission Award. Laptop ensembles have a very short history, with little to no pre-existing literature published. This lack of available literature poses a unique challenge to the vitality of the medium. The goal of this commission award is to recognize talents and to encourage new works for laptop ensembles. First prize is $400 plus possible performance; second prize is $200 plus possible performance. All composers are eligible, without restriction. There is no application fee. The composition should be programmed in either Max/MSP or other free software. The composition submitted should not have a performance history. Deadline: December 1, 2010 Contact: hsiaolan.wang@montana.edu Dr. Hsiao-Lan Wang, Department of Music, Montana State University This year the Winners' Concert will take place at the historic Church of the Ascension, Fifth Avenue at Tenth Street, in New York City, in May 2011, as part of the Inaugural Concerts celebrating a spectacular new organ at the church built by Pascal Quoirin of St. Didier, France. The winning compositions will be performed by the world famous Voices of Ascension, conducted by Dennis Keene, as part of their 2010-2011 subscription series. The landmark church is the home base of the Voices of Ascension, and is nationally known for its extraordinary acoustics. Women composers of any nationality are eligible to submit non-published works. +++ Call for the 60x60 Athena Mix Vox Novus and the Athena Festival are joining forces to create the 60x60 Athena Mix. This special 60x60 Athena Mix will be comprised of 60 electronic compositions 60 seconds long by 60 women.  The 60x60 Project is a one-hour-long show made by sequencing 60 pre-recorded pieces by 60 different composers, each piece a minute in length or shorter. Highlighting the work of a great many composers, 60x60 testifies to the vibrancy of contemporary composition by present a diverse array of styles, aesthetics, and techniques being used today (60x60 has received thousands of submissions from over 30 countries, produced radio shows, created multimedia and multidisciplinary events, and released several albums.  The 60x60 Athena Mix will premier at the Athena Festival in 2011 at Murray State University. The Athena Festival is a unique biennial event which is devoted to the performance of music composed by women. Alex Shapiro will be the guest composer for the 2011 Athena Festival and this year's theme is "Embracing Diversity - Expanding Horizons" and will take place March 14-16th, 2011. Deadline: December 31, 2010 Website:  voxnovus.com/60x60/Call.htm 14 PAN PIPES FALL 2010sai-national.org Prizes include: *   Cash prizes will be awarded the night of the concert: $5,000, $2,000, and $1,000 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. *   An AGMA approved recording will be provided for reproduction. *   Private sessions with the conductor to discuss interpretation will be scheduled prior to the rehearsal. *   Hotel and travel expenses covered for the rehearsals and concert. Composition requirements include: *   Scores must be no longer than 11 minutes. All pieces exceeding 11 minutes will be disqualified. *   Scores must be written for chorus and organ. There will be 40 singers in the Voices of Ascension for this performance. *   The Quoirin organ, a very large organ, will be highly eclectic in design, with enormous range of color and dynamic. It has been designed specifically to offer the wide range of possibilities that contemporary composers might want. For the complete stop list, go to nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/AscensionEpis. html and look at the stop list of the "Electric Console" (the console an accompanist would use). Deadline: January 15, 2011 Website: sorelmusic.org/choral_2010-2011.htm Contact: The Sorel Organization Judy Cope, Executive Director 28 West 44th Street, Suite 711 New York, NY 10036 Phone: 212-730-3552 Email: judy@sorelmusic.org Choral Composition Competition: The New York Virtuoso Singers will devote its entire 2011-2012 season to the music of women composers throughout the world. Therefore, the next competition is limited to women composers. It is not required that you send recordings. However, you may send one if you wish, as a MP3, a MIDI, or by snail mail. Published works are acceptable. The winners will receive a public performance in New York City of their choral compositions by The New York Virtuoso Singers. Founded in 1988 by conductor Harold Rosenbaum, The New York Virtuoso Singers has become this country's leading exponent of contemporary choral music. Although the chorus performs music of all periods, its emphasis is on commissioning, performing, and recording the music of living composers. All a cappella works for female chorus, and those with piano accompaniment may be submitted. If the text is not in the public domain, composers must submit a letter confirming that permission has been given from the author or poet to set the text to music. Deadline: April 8, 2011 Scores should be sent to: Canticorum Virtuosi, Inc. 2 Cove Road South Salem, New York 10590-1023 Scores and CDs will not be returned. +++ 'Signature' Subscription Signature is a free, online magazine featuring the contributions and achievements of women in classical music worldwide, published by The Maud Powell Society for Music and Education. Both contemporary and historical figures are featured. A special children's corner makes each issue exciting, fun, and interesting to all ages. Backed by an international line-up of writers, Signature brings to light the achievements of women as composers, performers, conductors, educators, patrons, music historians, musicologists. Publication of future issues of Signature depends on your support. Visit the organization's website to receive more information and access past issues. Website: maudpowell.org/signature

• Cover