Opens: July 11, 2025
Deadline: August 31, 2025

The Boston New Music Initiative is pleased to announce its third annual Historically Excluded Composers Competition. The purpose of this competition is to further the mission of The Boston New Music Initiative to generate and celebrate the creation of new music. Incorporated in 2010, BNMI aims to advance the careers of its members in the field of new music by serving as a resource for networking, professional development, commissioning, collaboration, and programming. The call is open for acoustic, electro-acoustic, acousmatic, and multimedia works. Any composer who identifies as a member of any of the categories explained below is eligible to enter. Composers currently or formerly on the staff of The Boston New Music Initiative are ineligible to apply. Submitted works should be an instrumental work including at least one instrument from BNMI’s core ensemble (see below) or an acousmatic work.

The winner in each category of this competition may have their work considered for inclusion in BNMI’s 2025-2026 season.

Categories

Category 1 - Historically Excluded Gender - This category is open to historically excluded genders, which includes cis-gendered women and any transgender or genderqueer individuals.

Category 2 - Historically Excluded Race or Ethnicity - This category is open to any person identifying (all or in part) as Black, Indigenous, Asian (including the Middle East), Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Chicano or Latino.

Category 3 - Historically Excluded Circumstances - This category is open to any person who:

• Is a primary caretaker for a dependent (child, elderly or disabled). A primary caretaker is defined as someone that spends more than 30 hours per week as a caretaker and cannot be replaced except through the help of a paid individual.
  
• Has a disability. An individual with a disability is a person who has an impairment that substantially limits major life activities.

Details

1. Instrumentation. BNMI’s core ensemble consists of Flute (doubling Piccolo, or Alto Flute), Clarinet in B-flat (doubling Clarinet in A, Clarinet in E-flat or Bass Clarinet in B-flat), Violin, Violoncello, Piano, and Percussion. Percussion instruments for this call should be limited to smaller, more portable instruments. Works may not include marimba, timpani, tubular bells, full-size bass drum, celesta, or harp. Stereo electronic, electroacoustic, multimedia or acousmatic works are accepted. Recommended additional instruments: Saxophone, Violin 2, Viola, Double Bass, and Soprano (voice). Works including more than one instrument outside of BNMI’s core ensemble may be asked to re-orchestrate.
2. Duration. Works can be of any duration, although instrumental works which are longer than 10 minutes may be excerpted for performance.
3. Multimedia. For all multimedia submissions, composers must either indicate that they have the rights to the specific multimedia element to be used (e.g. the film, tape, MAX/MSP patch, choreography, artwork, etc.) and grant BNMI permission to utilize it during performance, or else grant BNMI permission, at its discretion, to create a multimedia element. In the second case, BNMI reserves the right to incorporate or not to incorporate multimedia elements at its sole discretion.
4. Electronics. Scores of works involving electronic elements must include information on the specific technical requirements for performance. Likewise, multimedia works must indicate any extramusical forces needed. Works utilizing excessive electronic equipment may not be able to be programmed unless the composer can provide equipment.
5. Number of Entries. There is no limit on the number of works a composer may submit; however, each work should be submitted as a separate entry. Multi-movement works should be submitted as single entries. Please combine separate movements into one file.
6. Anonymity. AAll submissions must be anonymous. Scores or other materials with names or other identifying marks will not be considered. Please remove all identifying marks from all materials. Please make sure no metadata including names or identifying marks remain in submitted files. Please do not use a pseudonym or code number, simply remove your name.
7. Membership. Composers do not have to become members of BNMI, however Shout It Out Membership ($45/year) includes one free submission to ALL BNMI Calls for Scores (we host up to four per year) for one year. Information on membership benefits can be found here.
8. File Formats. The only acceptable file formats are:

   • For the score: .pdf
   • For (optional) audio recordings: .mp3 or .m4a
   • For video: .mov or .m4v
   • All other materials: .doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf, .odt, or .pdf
9. Delivery of Music. Selected composers are required to provide electronic copies of the full score and parts within four (4) weeks of their notification of selection. If electronics or multimedia are involved, all files required for performance and rehearsal must be submitted within the same time frame.
10. Permission for Use. By submitting to this call, the composer gives permission to record audio and video of any and all concerts and events hosted by or associated with BNMI in which the submitted piece is included. BNMI shall possess ownership of recorded audio and video and maintains the right to publicly distribute audio and video for promotional purposes. BNMI shall not publicly distribute the recording of any performance for financial gain.
11. Accessibility. We realize that our submission portal may not be accessible for all persons with a disability. If you are unable to use our submission portal because of your disabililty, please e-mail us at info@bostonnewmusic.org and give us just your name, and that you intend to apply. We will then assist you on submitting your materials anonymously.
    
12. Questions? Please address any questions to info@bostonnewmusic.org. Note: Please do NOT send submission materials to this email address as the materials cannot be submitted using this method. When submitting inquiries, please be as generic as possible, and do not include the title of your piece in the query in order to preserve anonymity.

Submission Process

Composers are asked to use this form to upload the following materials: