for composers of Jewish heritage:
Saint Mary¹s University Concert Band
The seventh Helen and Sam Kaplan Foundation Commission for a new Concert
Band composition written by a composer of Jewish heritage is outlined below.
Any questions should be directed directly to Dr. Janet Heukeshoven, Director
of Bands at Saint Mary¹s University of Minnesota. Contact information is
provided at the end of this notice.
Amount of Commission:
$5,000.00 plus travel/expense allowance for a campus visit at the premier of
the composition.
Description of the Composition:
The work will be scored for standard concert band instrumentation,
appropriate difficulty level for advanced high school bands and collegiate
ensembles. (A ³grade 4² level of difficulty by current educational
standards.) The orchestration of the 2012 project may be extended to
include solo voice or voices.
The composition is expected to be approximately 5 minutes in length.
The composition will be based on Jewish melodic material, either folk or
religious sources.
Expectations of the composer:
The selected composer will interact with SMU band students regarding the
composition. He/she will also be requested to attend the premier and
present a lecture/seminar on the commissioned work and music composition in
general.
Past commissioned composers have spent an average of 4 days in residency
surrounding the premiere.
The composer will provide SMU a full score and one set of parts. Additional
duplication of parts as needed for the ensemble will be the responsibility
of the university.
The composer retains all copyrights and will acknowledge SMU¹s role in the
commission of the composition upon future publication and/or distribution.
The SMU Concert Band will present the premier performance at a mutually
agreed upon concert date during the 2012-2013 academic year. The composer
will have the opportunity to conduct the premier performance if she/he
chooses to do so.
Past Commissioned Composers:
2000: Steven Barnett: Halleil: O Praise the Lord for concert band
2002: Lee Kesselman: Let Peace Descend for choir and wind
ensemble
2004: Philip Rothman: Departure Point for solo piano and wind ensemble
2006: Judith Lang-Zaimont: Israeli Rhapsody for concert band
2008: Marc Kibrick Bernstein: Ashkenazi Fathers for jazz combo (with
soloist or soloists) and concert band
2010 Paul Richards: If You Could Only See the Frog for concert band
Application process and deadline:
Interested Jewish composers should send a letter of introduction, resume,
scores and recordings of three representative compositions, and a SASE for
return of scores and recordings (optional) by March 15th 2011 to:
Dr. Janet Heukeshoven
Kaplan Commission Project Chair
Saint Mary¹s University Music Department
700 Terrace Heights #58
Winona, MN 55987-1399
Scores submitted for consideration need not be band compositions, but should
demonstrate wind and percussion writing. Composers who have applied for the
Kaplan/SMU Commission in the past are encouraged to re-apply.
Please note that application materials will be returned only if a
self-addressed stamped envelope is enclosed for return postage. If there is
no SASE the materials will be kept in the Kaplan Commission Project archive
for music student use and study.
For additional information please contact Dr. Heukeshoven at
507.457.1675 or email at: jheukesh@smumn.edu .