Call for Compositions
SSO National Day Concert 2024
Each season, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra curates and performs a uniquely Singaporean repertoire for its National Day Concert and more.
This is an open call for compositions and all Singaporeans interested are encouraged to apply. Deeply rooted as the SSO is in the classics, its musical aspirations are, too, intrinsically connected to Singapore’s multicultural society. Composers are invited to draw on the stories and sentiments of the past, present and future, in responding to the theme of SSO National Day Concert 2024: Legacy & Future.
More than one composition may be selected and will be rehearsed and performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in August 2024.
Applications are closed, view results of the call below.
The selected works are:
- Felicia Teng Red Dot Dreaming
- Gu Wei Illuminating the skies
- Lim Han Quan Our Story – Passage Through Time
The SSO's Call for Compositions for NDC2024 is paneled by composer Dr. Chen Yi and conductors Leonard Tan and Joshua Tan.
This call for compositions requires no application fee.
Submission Period: 1 December 2023 – 31 January 2024
Composers should submit an original piece of work, avoiding arrangements of existing works. Submissions will be reviewed by an artistic team, and the selected piece and its composer will be announced end-February 2024.
An honorarium will be awarded to the selected composer. The selected piece premiered at the SSO National Day Concert in August 2024. The selected composer will be invited to attend dress rehearsals with the orchestra during concert week.
Applications are closed.
Open to all Singaporeans, composers born in or after 1988 are invited to submit one best original work.
What to Submit
- Full orchestral score (PDF)
- All instrumental score parts (PDF)*
- Sibelius / Finale file
- Midi mock-up track (MP3, WMV)
- Programme Note for the submitted piece (up to 150 words)
*Only for selected composition
How to Submit
Ahead of the application, please prepare the following:
- CV
- Biography and Photo
For queries, please contact us at community@sso.org.sg.
- About the Work: Participating composers may write a new work OR submit a pre-existing work that has never premiered nor performed. Composers should submit an original work, avoiding arrangements of existing works.
- Title of the Work: Composer’s suggestion
- Duration: 4-5 mins
- Theme: Legacy & Future
- Instrumentation Requirements: Orchestral Work
Eligible pieces should not exceed the instrumentation below.
2 Flutes (piccolo available)
2 Oboes (cor anglais available)
2 Clarinets (bass clarinet available)
2 Bassoons (contrabassoon available)
4 French Horns
2 Trumpets (third trumpet available if preferred)
3 Trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass)
1 Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (must be playable by a maximum of 4 players)
Piano or harp is possible
String size: Violin Is, Violin IIs, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses (approx. size 12,10,8,6,4)
Do refer to the composition guidebook for music preparation guidelines.