Comments on: Advice for the Emerging Composer: Competitions http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions Composer, Conductor, Lecturer Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:22:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kerri Powles http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-59696 Kerri Powles Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:37:06 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-59696 I too am simply amazed at you not winning any competitions! Your amazing. I play your music a lot, and my daughter has had the pleasure of having you conduct one of your choral pieces (Sleep) to her Cardiff University Choir. I also compose my own music, and would love to be pointed in the right direction of some competitions please.......can you help? Keep the beautifull music coming Eric. Thanks. Kerri I too am simply amazed at you not winning any competitions! Your amazing. I play your music a lot, and my daughter has had the pleasure of having you conduct one of your choral pieces (Sleep) to her Cardiff University Choir.
I also compose my own music, and would love to be pointed in the right direction of some competitions please…….can you help?
Keep the beautifull music coming Eric.
Thanks. Kerri

]]> By: Steven Kudlo http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-34385 Steven Kudlo Sat, 16 Jul 2011 01:53:05 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-34385 Fascinating response from Malachevsky. I've only placed in a contest once, but it was a complex composition. I've always thought there was something interesting about heavily chromatic music, which it was. I wonder if multiple contest wins can be parlayed into more frequent performances (of which I have none.)? I really enjoyed your blog article, Eric! Thanks. Steve. Fascinating response from Malachevsky. I’ve only placed in a contest once, but it was a complex composition. I’ve always thought there was something interesting about heavily chromatic music, which it was. I wonder if multiple contest wins can be parlayed into more frequent performances (of which I have none.)? I really enjoyed your blog article, Eric! Thanks.
Steve.

]]> By: Mary DeLia http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-31620 Mary DeLia Tue, 31 May 2011 07:11:49 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-31620 I just read your "Advice for the Emerging Composer", and honestly, I was so thrilled to have found someone with as much insight as yourself. You may be my new favorite person <>. I just read your "Advice for the Emerging Composer", and honestly, I was so thrilled to have found someone with as much insight as yourself. You may be my new favorite person <>.

]]> By: Daniel Routh http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-30430 Daniel Routh Sat, 14 May 2011 18:40:01 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-30430 Thanks for this Eric! I will be submitting a piece to the Anthem Competition here very soon! -Daniel Routh Thanks for this Eric!

I will be submitting a piece to the Anthem Competition here very soon!

-Daniel Routh

]]> By: Schedule http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-13923 Schedule Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:33:37 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-13923 You you should edit the webpage name Advice for the Emerging Composer: Competitions – Blog – Eric Whitacre to more generic for your webpage you write. I liked the blog post however. You you should edit the webpage name Advice for the Emerging Composer: Competitions – Blog – Eric Whitacre to more generic for your webpage you write. I liked the blog post however.

]]> By: andrew violette http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-6438 andrew violette Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:53:26 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-6438 I, like you, Mr Whitacre, have never won anything---not a grant, not a prize, not an award---and I recommend young composers to apply for these things only if they have the time. When I was in Juilliard, studying counterpoint with Otto Luening, he happened to be on the committee for a certain award and recommended I apply. I did and, of course I didn't get it. Later, I met him in the hallway of the hallowed halls of big J and he said, "Why didn't you get your score engraved? They wouldn't even look at it." "Oh," I said, nonplussed, "I thought they judged on merit." He rolled his eyes and gave me a look, "Silly boy!" It was then and there I decided I would never enter a competition again because I realized it just wasn't worth it monetarily. For all the time I would spend entering I could do a few gigs and make the same amount of money. I thought, "Why should I let my work be judged by these academic hacks?" It's pathetic when a composer puts on his bio the things he's won. Are we nothing but vultures for the little government funding set apart for the arts? Ridiculous. Get a menial job, make the money, put it towards concerts and CDs and never look back. I, like you, Mr Whitacre, have never won anything—not a grant, not a prize, not an award—and I recommend young composers to apply for these things only if they have the time.

When I was in Juilliard, studying counterpoint with Otto Luening, he happened to be on the committee for a certain award and recommended I apply. I did and, of course I didn't get it. Later, I met him in the hallway of the hallowed halls of big J and he said, "Why didn't you get your score engraved? They wouldn't even look at it." "Oh," I said, nonplussed, "I thought they judged on merit." He rolled his eyes and gave me a look, "Silly boy!"

It was then and there I decided I would never enter a competition again because I realized it just wasn't worth it monetarily. For all the time I would spend entering I could do a few gigs and make the same amount of money. I thought, "Why should I let my work be judged by these academic hacks?"

It's pathetic when a composer puts on his bio the things he's won. Are we nothing but vultures for the little government funding set apart for the arts? Ridiculous. Get a menial job, make the money, put it towards concerts and CDs and never look back.

]]> By: Matt http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-6437 Matt Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:20:07 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-6437 Does anyone know any other competitions without an "application fee?" It seems that almost every competition I find, there's an application fee. Anyone? Thanks, Matt Does anyone know any other competitions without an "application fee?" It seems that almost every competition I find, there's an application fee.

Anyone?

Thanks,
Matt

]]> By: Martin http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-6436 Martin Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:09:22 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-6436 Not to bring down the optimism, I would like to express my disagreement. When you lose, it is because the judges did not think your piece was good enough to win the prize. Even though the odds are very much against you winning every time, if your music is good, you should win sometimes. Composers should always consider improving their technique especially when given advice from other composers who they respect. To think that you lost because the judges don't know music as well as you do is the wrong attitude to take. Not to bring down the optimism, I would like to express my disagreement. When you lose, it is because the judges did not think your piece was good enough to win the prize. Even though the odds are very much against you winning every time, if your music is good, you should win sometimes.

Composers should always consider improving their technique especially when given advice from other composers who they respect. To think that you lost because the judges don't know music as well as you do is the wrong attitude to take.

]]> By: Seth Garrepy http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-6435 Seth Garrepy Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:50:04 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-6435 Eric, I couldn't agree more with your statements! Having talked personally with Fran over at ASCAP, I can hear her saying what you mentioned above-- and I agree wholeheartedly with her. Your advice to composers on rejection is very true. I have been rejected, but I have been fortunate to also meet with success. It's in those times when that "big break" happens, we you are reminded how precious few those moments are. I applaud your sage wisdom and that you shared it with us all. I wish you, Hila, and your family a happy Thanksgiving this week. Best, Seth Garrepy Eric,

I couldn't agree more with your statements! Having talked personally with Fran over at ASCAP, I can hear her saying what you mentioned above– and I agree wholeheartedly with her.

Your advice to composers on rejection is very true. I have been rejected, but I have been fortunate to also meet with success. It's in those times when that "big break" happens, we you are reminded how precious few those moments are. I applaud your sage wisdom and that you shared it with us all.

I wish you, Hila, and your family a happy Thanksgiving this week.

Best,

Seth Garrepy

]]> By: Bruce Babcock http://ericwhitacre.com/blog/advice-for-the-emerging-composer-competitions#comment-6434 Bruce Babcock Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:50:54 +0000 http://ericwhitacre.wordpress.com/?p=1160#comment-6434 Eye opening to see which pieces did not win. Great advice. I've actually won two competitions - thirty years apart. I'm not due again for another 28 years. Eye opening to see which pieces did not win. Great advice. I've actually won two competitions – thirty years apart. I'm not due again for another 28 years.

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