Call for Compositions
SSO National Day Concert 2026
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 inspiration from iconic Singaporean landmarks and/or cuisine to present the story of us, in responding to the theme of SSO National Day Concert 2026: What Makes Us Singapore?
More than one composition may be selected, to be rehearsed and performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in August 2026.
This call for compositions requires no application fee.
Submission Period: 6 October 2025, 10am – 31 January 2026, 5pm SGT
Composers should submit an original piece of work, avoiding arrangements of existing works. Submissions will be reviewed by an artistic panel, and the selected piece(s) and its composer(s) will be announced at end-February 2026.
The winning piece(s) will be premiered at the SSO National Day Concert in August 2026 and an honorarium will be awarded to the selected composer(s). The selected composer(s) will be invited to attend dress rehearsals with the orchestra during concert week.
Open to all Singaporeans, composers born in or after 1990 are invited to submit one best original work.
What to Submit
- Full orchestral score (PDF)
- Midi mock-up track (MP3, WMV)
- Programme note for the submitted piece (up to 150 words)
- *All instrumental score parts (PDF)
- *Sibelius / Finale file
*Only for selected composition(s)
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 been 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: Iconic Singaporean landmarks and/or cuisine – What Makes Us Singapore?
- 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.
