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Announcing the 

2023 Sinta Quartet National Composition Competition

In furtherance of developing the repertoire for the modern saxophone quartet and showcasing the great work of today’s young composers, we are pleased to announce SQ’s 8th National Saxophone Quartet Composition Competition!

 

Awards:

1st Prize - Two 1st-prize winners will receive $500 each, have their piece premiered by SQ, and receive recordings of the performance.

Runner-Up - Up to three runners-up will have their pieces premiered by SQ, and receive recordings of the performance.

 

Submission Deadline: April 15, 2023

The premiere  for all winning pieces will be in August, 2023.

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must be currently registered students, of any degree level from Bachelor's through Doctorate, in a music program in the United States as of January 2023.

  • Previous first-prize winners of this competition are NOT eligible, all other composers are welcome.

  • Previously premiered pieces are welcome, provided that if selected, the composer allows SQ to be listed as a co-premiering ensemble with the work’s previous performers.

  • New arrangements/transcriptions of your own previous works are welcome provided they have not been performed in a premiere setting in that version before.

  • Applicants are welcome to submit more than 1 piece, but only 1 piece per composer will be chosen.

 

Length/Instrumentation Requirements

  • Pieces must be at least 3 minutes in length.

  • The suggested maximum length is 8 minutes, works that are longer than this will be considered equally, though if selected, may not be performed in their entirety due to program length restrictions.

  • Individual movement(s) of a larger work are welcome provided that they meet the criteria listed above. 

  • Instrumentation must be SATB saxophone quartet.

Fee:

  • There is no application fee!

 

Submission Instructions and Deadlines

  • Pieces must be submitted, score and parts in PDF format with a MIDI/digital realization of the piece to info@donaldsintaquartet.com by APRIL 15, 2023. In addition, please include a brief bio and resume detailing your current enrollment in a collegiate music program in the United States.

  • Notifications will be sent by May 15, 2023.

Further Information

  • All composers are encouraged to view our recordings to become acquainted with various technical possibilities for the ensemble. Any composer with specific questions regarding technique, extended techniques, or instrument specific notation used in composing for saxophone quartet is encouraged to contact Dan Graser - dangraser@gmail.com

2020 Winners:


Gala Flagello - "Dabble"
Aaron Siebert-Castiñeira - "The Sobbing of the Phoenix"
 
Pictured: Gala Flagello (left), Aaron Siebert-Castiñeira (right)
Click HERE to learn more about these composers.
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2019 Winners:


Keaton Garrett - "Idling"
Harrison Collins - "Drive"
 
Pictured: Keaton Garrett (left), Harrison Collins (right)

2018 Winners:


Sawyer Denton - "Midnight Run"
Saad Haddad - "Nashwa"
 
Pictured: Saad Haddad (left), Sawyer Denton (right)
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2016/17 Winners:


Richard Chowenhill - "In Solitude I Sit"
Chris Hass - "Volcanic Ash"
 
Pictured: DSQ (always in score order) with Richard Chowenhill (center left with the beard) and Chris Hass (center right in between two beards) after the premiere of their pieces at Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor.

2015 Winner:


Zack McDonald - "The Corrupted Sleeper"
 
Pictured: DSQ with composer and saxophonist Zack McDonald after a performance of his winning composition the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.

2014 Winner:


Joseph Bozich - "Babel"
 
Pictured: DSQ with composer Joseph Bozich after the premiere performance at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

2013 Winners:


Natalie Moller - "Phantoms"
 
Annika Socolofsky - "Bulgarity"
 
Pictured (L-R): Professor Donald Sinta, Danny, Annika Socolofsky, Joe, Zach, Natalie Moller, Dan. Following the US premiere of their works.
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