Compose and Win! (June 2025)
Deadline: June 30, 2025
The MusiCurate Composing Competition offers a prestigious opportunity for composers to showcase their talent and contribute to the evolving landscape of classical guitar. Winning works will receive professional publication, promotion, and performance, providing invaluable exposure and recognition. With a panel of esteemed musicians evaluating submissions through a blind judging process, this competition aims to celebrate originality, craftsmanship, and artistic expression in guitar composition. There are three categories, each with an assigned theme. Composers may only enter one category per competition round, ensuring that multiple voices are promoted and celebrated.
CATEGORIES
Solo Guitar: Single Movement
Instrumentation: One Guitar
Difficulty: Advanced/Professional
Length: 4-7 minutes
Style/Form: Any
Theme: Fireworks
Solo Guitar: Multi-Movement
Instrumentation: One Guitar
Difficulty: Intermediate
Length: 7+ minutes
Style/Form: Any
Theme: Celebrations
Guitar Duo
Instrumentation: Two Guitars
Difficulty: Beginner / Early Intermediate
Length: 5-7 minutes
Style/Form: Any
Theme: Falling in Love
PRIZES
Publication - Winning pieces will be professionally published by MusiCurate
Promotion - Winners will be highlighted in MusiCurated, The Classical Guitar Magazine
Products - Winners will receive a $100 gift card for www.musicurate.com
Performance - Winning pieces will be professionally performed and recorded.
RULES & GUIDELINES
Eligibility
- Must be subscribed to MusiCurated, The Classical Guitar Magazine (digital or print subscription).
- Must be age 18+
- May reside anywhere in the world.
- Composition must be new (started in 2025) and not previously published.
- One entry per composer, per round (you may compete in only one category each round).
- All submissions must be in standard notation (no tablature).
Deadline: June 30, 2025
How to Enter
- Complete the entry form
- Email a PDF of your score, along with a completed entry form, to music@musicurate.com with the email subject “composition entry June 2025”
- Note: any accompanying audio files will be ignored. Only PDF submissions are required.
Selection Process
- All submissions will be anonymized and numbered for blind judging
- Anonymized entries will be shared with a panel of three professional musicians from diverse backgrounds, who will assign scores based on predetermined criteria
- Winners will be notified prior to publication
Selection Criteria
- Does the composition adhere to the specified difficulty, length and style/form? (score out of 20)
- Does the composition adequately reflect the specified theme for this round? (score out of 20)
- Does the composition display both creativity and musicality? (score out of 20)
- Is the notated score easy to read, understand and interpret? (score out of 20)
- Do the program notes provide information of value for performers and audiences? (score out of 20)
