Fanfare Competition

Fanfare Competition. Can you create an attention-grabbing 30 seconds of music?

Fanfare Competition

An Artology, Sydney Opera House and Australian Youth Orchestra Project

Can you create an attention-grabbing 30 seconds of music? Are you aged between 12 – 21 years?

If you are interested in writing music for the stage, film or you have a passion for experimental musics – enter the Fanfare Competition and fill the Sydney Opera House with your music. You will work with the Australian Youth Orchestra, a leading conductor and renowned Australian composer!

The competition is open to Australians aged 12 to 21 years to write a short 30 second attention-grabbing piece of music. Selected by a judging panel, eight young composers will have their works orchestrated and recorded. These young composers will work with Nicholas Vines renowned Australian composer, the Australian Youth Orchestra and a leading conductor to refine their works. The works are recorded and then played as the ‘bell’ cue for audiences to take their seats at the Sydney Opera House. Each month a different Fanfare will be played the Sydney Opera House. A special ceremony will be held in the SOH to announce the eight winners. Let your imagination run wild!

Age limit: 12 – 21 years of age
Duration: Finished work will be 30 seconds of music
Deadline for submissions: TBC
To apply complete the online application form below.

In short

Step 1 : Write your composition in Short Score form, indicating your instrumentation and send us your favourite four (4) bars in full orchestration.
Step 2 : Complete the online application form
Step 3 : Upload a digital file of your work (PDF version only). If you have composed your work by hand please scan and upload the file.
Submit by TBC

Step 4 : 8 Young Winning Composers Announced
Step 5 : Day workshop with composer Nicholas Vines (held in Sydney)
Step 6 : Day Rehearsal with Australian Youth Orchestra (held in Melbourne)
Step 7 : Works recorded by Australian Youth Orchestra (held in Melbourne)
Step 8 : Works broadcast at the Sydney Opera House

What is a Fanfare?

A fanfare is normally a relatively short piece of music that is typically played by trumpets, cornet, french horns, or other brass instruments, often accompanied by percussion. It is usually intended for important social purposes, such as ceremonial events involving important people or animals, as exclamations of significant activities during an event (such as with introductions and closings), or to precede announcements with the purpose of gaining the attention of the audience. Similarly, musical works themselves often begin, transition, or end with fanfares or fanfare-like themes. The term is also used symbolically, such as to describe occasions that are greatly publicised, even when no music is involved.

Further Listening

Aaron Copland: Fanfare For The Common Man
Bill Conti: Fanfare For Rocky (Rocky)
Nigel Westlake: Cudmirrah fanfare : for symphony orchestra (1987)
Liza Lim: Flying banner : full orchestra (2005)

What is a Short Score?

A short score is a reduction of a work for many instruments to just a few staves. Rather than composing directly in full score, many composers work out some type of short score while they are composing and later expand the complete orchestration.

AYO Instrumentation

1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet or saxophone, 1 bassoon, 2 trumpets, 2 french horns, 1 trombone, strings (violins, viola, cello, bass), timpani, percussion (no more than 2 players), electronics or recorded sound. We encourage you to call us if you have any queries regarding instrumentation in particular percussion and electronics (electronics would be accommodated in the final recording process).

Further information contact Artology:

Email: info@artology.org. au
Phone: 02 8007 7322

Fanfare. A Learning and Participation project originally created by Royal Opera House, London.