Congratulations to Roger Zare, whose composition Neowise will be performed by the Kennett Symphony at the Masterworks 3 concert on May 7, 2023. Inspired by science and nature, Neowise describes a comet that flew by the inner Solar System throughout July 2020.

The next biennial Composition Competition will occur during the 2023-2024 Season. Submission dates will be announced at that time.

It is a joy and a responsibility of orchestras to seek out and perform the works of today’s composers. Kennett Symphony is undertaking an active role in promoting composers of orchestral music. Kennett Symphony’s Composition Competition is a region-wide program designed to help the winning composer bring their work to a wider audience. The competition is designed to highlight composers of all backgrounds and stages of creative life.

The selection panel was made up of Kennett Symphony Music Director Michael Hall, internationally acclaimed composer Jim Stephenson, and University of Delaware Professor of Music Composition and Theory and Co-Chair of New Music Delaware Dr. Jennifer M. Barker. Pieces were evaluated evaluated according to these broad criteria: originality, creative potential, overall musical effect, technique, clarity and quality of the score submitted. Determinations of the evaluation panel are final.

It is thrilling to discover the music of today, and to contribute to our musical heritage.

The winning composer will receive:

• $1,000 monetary prize
• A premiere performance by Kennett Symphony
• Media coverage; appearances at a variety of community related events
• Round trip transportation to Kennett Square, accommodations, ground transportation, and per diem

• Kennett Symphony values its position as an equitable and inclusive organization and welcomes submissions from composers of all backgrounds and stages of creative life.
• Applicants must presently reside in Pennsylvania, New York State, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont or Maine.
• Submitted work may not have received a performance or a reading by a professional orchestra.
• Work should be 6 – 12 minutes in length.
• Instrumentation must not exceed: 2 fl [1.2/pic] , 2 ob [ 1.2/eh], 2 cl [1.2/bcl], 2 bsn [1.2/cbn], 4 hn, 2 tp, 3 trombones, 1 tuba timp +3, pf/cel, str. Works for strings only will also be accepted.

Submissions must include:

• One computer-generated score in PDF format
• A unexpiring web link to an audio file of the work, either a live performance or MIDI tracks rendered to audio. (SoundCloud, A private link YouTube, Google Drive, or Dropbox)
• A brief bio (200 word maximum)
• A brief description of the work

If selected, the composer must provide a complete set of parts by that conform to the Major Orchestra Librarians’ of America (MOLA) Guidelines for Music Preparation.