Opera Southwest Albuquerque announces:

The Brabson Composers Competition
for the Creation of a New Opera for Young Audiences
sponsored by the Brabson Library and Educational Foundation
The competition runs in a three-year cycle. The winning opera will receive multiple performances, premiering in the OSW 2011-2012 season followed by a period of possible revisions and rewrites. The final production will be remounted for multiple performances in the 2012-2013 season.
This competition is for the creation of a short opera using original music as a tool for educating elementary through middle school audiences in the areas of the sciences or humanities.
Winner will receive a $2000 stipend for all score copying plus a round trip airfare to Albuquerque plus housing and car for each of the two years of performances.

Eligibility
• The Young Audiences Opera Composition Competition is open to American composers.
• The libretto must be based on topics dealing with the sciences or humanities and appropriate for elementary and middle school audiences.
• Language: English
• Length: Under one hour
• Orchestration: chamber size, up to 13 players maximum (electronic component acceptable)
• Voices: up to 5 voices
• No chorus

Submission Procedure
Applicants may submit either:
1. a completed score of the opera that meets the competition requirements or
2. a written description of the work yet to be completed with two contrasting scenes of at least a total of ten minutes. (CD/Recording optional)
Each entry must have a title page in the score that indicates the cast in order of appearance, with voice types, and the size and instrumentation of the orchestra.
JUDGING IS BLIND. THEREFORE, COMPOSERS MUST REMOVE ALL IDENTIFICATION AND PRINTED NAMES FROM THE SUBMITTED MATERIALS TO ASSURE ANONYMITY.
A completed Entry Form must accompany each submission.
Each entry must also include a separate envelope, with sufficient postage affixed, for return of materials. If no envelope is included, materials will not be returned.

Selection Procedure
OSW Artistic Director David Bartholomew and OSW Music Director Anthony Barrese will select the winning opera/proposal.

Competition Schedule
• Entry Form and submission must be postmarked by December 1, 2010 to:
Opera Southwest
PO Box 27671
Albuquerque NM 87125-7671
• Adjudication will be completed and winner will be notified on February 1, 2011.
• Composer must have manuscript, orchestra parts and piano/vocal reduction ready by September 1, 2011.
Questions may be addressed to salopel@aol.com. No phone calls, please.