Cantate’s Fourteenth Biennial Young Composers Competition

Cantate is excited to announce the winner of its 14th biennial Young Composers’ Competition. Composer David Fisher of Baltimore, Maryland, submitted the winning composition,“26.”

David Fisher (b. 1996)is a composer, poet, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist based in Baltimore whose work has garnered acclaim for its poignancy and thematic relevance. Drawing inspiration from nature, memory, and our most urgent contemporary questions, David’s music opens space for emotion and contemplation. His compositional catalogue inhabits the liminal space between tradition and innovation, abstract and concrete, highly structured and ever-evolving aleatory. His creative spirit and flair for the dramatic thrive on collaboration with artists across various media, including visual arts, poetry, contemporary choreography, and theatrical arts. This interdisciplinary approach enriches his work, fostering a dynamic fusion of artistic expression.

Captivating audiences across North America and Europe, David has received commissions and performances by the Handel Choir of Baltimore, Fifth House Ensemble, Trio Mythos, Cantala Treble Choir, and the New Voices Choir. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in composition from Lawrence University Conservatory of Music where he studied with Joanne Metcalf and Asha Srinivasan. He further honed his craft under the mentorship of esteemed faculty members at the Fresh Inc Festival, European American Musical Alliance Summer Music Institute, and highSCORE New Music Festival. Continuing his formal education, David completed a Master’s degree in music theory pedagogy and composition under the instruction of Oscar Bettison at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. His commitment to curiosity, innovation, and the world around him propels his career as an emerging voice in the landscape of contemporary music. Read more at www.davidfishercomposition.com

Cantate’s biennial Young Composers’ Competition seeks to encourage emerging composing talent ages 35 and younger from across North America. Begun in 1994, the Young Composers’ Competition is integral to Cantate’s mission and strong commitment to innovative programming, which includes the frequent commissioning and performance of new choral works.

For this year’s competition, entrants were asked to submit a sample work demonstrating their skills and style in choral composition. The winner will receive a $1,000 commission to compose a new choral work, in collaboration with Music Director Victoria Gau, to be premiered by Cantate in the spring of 2024. The three distinguished judges were Dr. Andrew Simpson, Professor of Music at The Catholic University of America; Jessica Krash, acclaimed D.C.-area composer and pianist; and Jeff Kempskie, Music Director of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Capitol Hill. The judges worked independently to evaluate the entries, identified by pseudonyms.

Hear more of David’s work (including the winning composition, “26“) on his website, and on our May Chamber Singers Concert. We hope you’ll join us!

As part of its commitment to innovative programming and creative educational outreach that promotes young artists, Cantate announces its fourteenth biennial Young Composers Competition.

2023 COMPETITION GUIDELINES

• The competition is limited to residents of the United States and Canada not older than 35 years on June 30, 2023 (born after June 30, 1987)
• All submissions must include a sample composition and be made through our application portal or by PDF submitted to exec@cantate.org. Only one submission will be accepted per composer. Entries must be clearly identified as to title and source of text. The composer’s name must not appear on the score. A pseudonym shall be clearly printed on the manuscript and on the application form. Compositions are to remain anonymous to the judges.
• The sample composition shall be scored for SATB chorus, 4- to 8-part, a cappella or with keyboard accompaniment. Newly composed works or works composed within the past five years are welcome.
• Additional sample compositions may be requested by the judges.
• Please do not send recordings or MIDI realizations.
• The winner of the competition will receive a $1,000 commission to compose an original SATB piece of approximately five minutes in length to text selected by the Music Director. Cantate claims the right to the premiere of this piece.
• Performance of the commissioned piece is anticipated in the spring of the 2023-2024 season; however, Cantate reserves the right to award the prize without performance. It also reserves the right to make no award if, in the opinion of the judges, the compositions submitted do not meet standards of excellence.

DEADLINES

• Applications and sample compositions (in PDF form) may be submitted by Google Form or by email and received no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT, June 30, 2023.
• A winner will be announced no later than September 1, 2023.
• The final score of the winner’s commissioned composition will be due by November 30, 2023. The $1,000 commission will be paid upon receipt of the final score.

For more information, contact exec@cantate.org.

CANTATE Chamber Singers and Concert Choir attract many of the Washington, D.C., area’s finest choral musicians, selected annually by audition. CANTATE performs a broad range of great Western choral literature spanning the past five centuries and is recognized for championing neglected masterpieces and premiering newly commissioned works. Its virtuoso performances, often featuring acclaimed guest artists, are offered in smaller venues to create the greatest possible intimacy between performers and audience.