NCVS Composer Competition

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA VIOLA SOCIETY’S  COMPOSER COMPETITION 2022-23

Announcing our 2022 winner:  Cantilena for solo viola by Prof. Dr. Andersen Viana of Brazil

Dr. Andersen Viana is a composer and professor at Clóvis Salgado Foundation in Belo Horizonte-Brazil. He began composing at the age of 13 and became a professor at the age of 19. He completed his PhD studies in composition at the Federal University of Bahia and furthered his studies at other institutions in Brazil, Italy and Sweden such as the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Reale Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, Arts Academy of Rome, Accademia Chigiana di Siena and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. 

 

Many thanks to our panel of judges:  Jodi Levitz, Hank Dutt, Kevin Jim, Ethan Filner, Tom Tatton, Daria D’Andrea and Katrina Wreede.

2021 Prize-winner: 

Micro Suite for Solo Viola 

by Dario Duarte of Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

 

Dario Duarte graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the Universidad Nacional de San Martin and studied piano at the Alberto Ginastera Conservatory in Buenos Aires. In 2019 he composed his first opera SOMA, which was awarded by the Williams Foundation of Buenos Aires. His compositions include works for chamber ensemble, solo instruments and orchestra.
Dario currently lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina and teaches at the School of Humanities of the Universidad Nacional de San Martin and at the Conservatorio Superior de Música Manuel de Falla.

 

 

 

 

 Andrew Ahn performing Micro Suite

 

 Andrew Hwang performing Micro Suite

 

 

 

Chanhee Park performing Micro Suite

Composition finalists this year were (in alphabetical order):

Dream for Viola by Dr. Patricio Molina

Fantasieta by Prof. Dr. Andersen Viana

Furious by Jenna Colombet

La lune s’attristait.  Des séraphins enpleurs rêvant by Andrew Haile Austin

Oak Branches by Blair Whittington

Teaser by Pablo Rubino

Transylvan by Mark Francis

 

 

 About the previous years' competition

The Northern California Viola Society 2020-21 Composition Contest winner was "Viola & Cesario" by Andrew M. Wilson of Devon, UK. The competition is for unperformed solo viola works, 3 minutes or under, composed in the last 5 years.  The winning composition was premiered by finalists in the NCVS Young Violist Competition on March 7, 2021, presented online.  

Over 70 pieces from all over the world were submitted in November to our assembled reviewing panel of violists. It was exciting to see the international offerings and the large number of submissions. The pieces we received demonstrated a huge range of creativity and musicality.   We are deeply grateful to all of the composers who took the time to share their efforts with us.  Please consider applying again next year.  

2020-2021 Finalist compositions were:

Winner, "Viola & Cesario" by Andrew M. Wilson

"Fantasy for Viola Solo" by Jake Gesell

"Autumn Leaves Dancing in the Wind” by Masao Yokoyama

“Listen to Viola” by Frank den Bakker

"Shadow Child Prelude” by Lawrence Kramer 

“Lovely on the Water” by John Whittaker 

“FortEtude” by Eleanor Aversa

“Requiem, in memoriam K. Penderecki”  by Andreina Costantini  

NCVS wishes to thank all the composers who entered and we can't wait for next year! Many thanks to our panel of violists for reviewing the entries: Ellen Ruth Rose, Hank Dutt, Jodi Levitz, Patricia Heller, Thomas Tatton, Katrina Wreede & Daria D'Andrea,

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Our 2019-20 Composition Competition Winner was Denise Ondishko’s work, COGITATIO for Viola Solo, chosen by the 5-member panel of professional violists from 80-plus individual works submitted.  

The 86 works submitted in 2019 came from composers based in countries including: Indonesia, China, Russia, Iran, Argentina, Australia, Spain, Italy, UK, Ireland, France, Japan, Greece, Belgium, Israel, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the US.  

The 2019-2020 finalist compositions were (in alphabetical order):

A Viking Farewell - Sarah Cattley

Cogitatio - Denise Ondishko (winner)

Dance for Solo Viola - Laura Paleari

Dolorondo - Wendy Davis

Étude - Lautaro Figueroa

Fabula - Maximiliano Garcia de Veas Gimena

Grasshopper - Milana Milosovic

One Evening in the Forest - Reina Yoshioka

Rite of Fire - Indra Persons

Threnody for a Skinned Cat - Gu Wei

Upon the Path of the Infinite - Girard Kratz

Whirling Dervish (from Balkan Pictures) - C. J. Kachulis

The Northern California Viola Society annually holds a Composition Contest for unperformed solo viola works, 3 minutes or under, composed in the last 5 years.  The winning composition will be premiered by pre-professional level finalists in the NCVS Young Violist Competition.  There are typically 5-6 finalists, aged 19 and under with an advanced level of technical facility.  Works should reflect the ability level of the performers and offer contrasting sections with both technical and emotional challenges.  No tape, amplification or other accompaniment. Composer is encouraged to record the online performances.  

Prize: $100 and feature article on NCVS website. 

Deadline for submission: annually in Fall

Winner and Runners-up announced: tbd annually in December

To Submit: Email your score PDF that includes date of composition and title but pseudonym for composer’s name to katrinawreede@gmail.com.   In the email, include composer’s name, title of work and contact information.  Do not send mp3s, cover pages, bios, poems, images, stories or anything not directly related to performing the work.  All submissions will be deleted after the judging.

 

The Northern California Viola Society announces its 2022-23 Composition Contest for unperformed solo viola works, 3 minutes duration or under, composed in the last 5 years.  The winning composition will be premiered by pre-professional level finalists in the NCVS Young Violist Competition on March 12, 2023.  There are typically 5-6 finalists, aged 19 and under with an advanced level of technical facility.  Works should reflect the ability level of the performers and offer contrasting sections with both technical and emotional challenges.  No tape, amplification or other accompaniment. Composers can be any age or nationality.

Prize: $100 and feature article on NCVS website. 

Deadline for submission: Nov. 11, 2022

Winner and Runners-up announced: Dec. 9, 2022

To Submit: Email your score PDF that includes date of composition and title but pseudonym for composer’s name to katrinawreede@gmail.com.   In the email, include composer’s name, title of work and contact information.  Do not send mp3s, cover pages, bios, poems, images, stories or anything not directly related to performing the work.  All submissions will be deleted after the judging.