Music Now Contest
Indiana State University
Contemporary Music Festival
Music Now Chamber Music Concert
Call for Scores
The Indiana State University School of Music invites the submission of solo/chamber scores for its 60th Contemporary Music Festival on October 28-30, 2026 featuring Principal Guest Composer James Stephenson. Compositions selected from this Call for Scores will be presented at the Music Now concert on Friday, October 30, 2026.
Contest Guidelines
Deadline:
All scores must be received by June 15, 2026. Winners will be announced by July 30, 2026.
Eligibility:
There are no restrictions regarding applicant age. Contestants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents currently residing in the United States. Winners of the competition within the last five years are not eligible.
Length:
Compositions may not exceed 15 minutes in length.
Requirements:
- Composers may submit one score only.
- Submissions must be original compositions, not arrangements.
- Works must be solo or chamber music compositions (1-6 performers).
- Compositions must have been written since 2011.
- Selected composers are required to be present for the performance of their composition on October 30, 2026. In addition, composers will introduce their music at a featured session the same day as the performance. A total of $200 in travel expenses will be reimbursed by Indiana State University.
- Composers should secure their own performers if at all possible. Although every effort to find local performers will be made, pieces submitted may be disqualified if performers are not available. Funding for performers will not be provided by Indiana State University.
Application Process:
- Completed Online Application Form
- File submission:
- One anonymous full score in PDF format (please omit name of composer)
- A corresponding anonymous recording with title of composition (please omit name of composer). MIDI realizations, mp3, and aac (m4a) files are all acceptable. Please do not send wav or aiff files.
- Electronic documents can be emailed to Kurt Fowler at Kurt.Fowler@indstate.edu or shared as file links via Dropbox/Google Drive/iCloud or other such services.
Incomplete entries will not be considered. All entries must be submitted no later than 11:59 EST on June 15, 2026. Entrants will be notified of the results of the Call for Scores by July 30, 2026.
Questions:
Dr. Kurt Fowler, Contemporary Music Festival Artistic Director
Kurt.Fowler@indstate.edu
Student Performer/Composer Recital
60th Contemporary Music Festival
ISU Student Performer/Composer Recital
The Contemporary Music Festival Committee urges interested ISU student performers and composers to take part in the 60th annual ISU CMF Student Performer/Composer Recital scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026. Due to the importance of this event, a high level of preparation and musicianship is expected from all participants. Auditions for this event will take place on Wednesday evening, September 23. Students who are selected to participate in the Festival will be notified within two days.
The following factors play a role in the selection process: quality of audition, quality of work performed, and practical programming considerations. In addition, more weight will be given to students performing music by guest composer James Stephenson, or ISU student composers. The program will be selected to fit approximately 45 minutes of music.
Please Download the Full Instructions: Application Information PDF
Eligibility
Participants must be undergraduate music majors, minors, or non-majors who are enrolled as full-time students and enrolled in performance study at ISU, both at the time of the audition and at the time of the concert (an exception to this rule is made for students during their student-teaching or internship semester).
Repertoire Requirements
- Solo or chamber works (for performers: work composed within the last 30 years)
- Time limit: up to a total of 10 minutes
- Contact your studio teacher or a festival committee member for assistance in finding repertoire
Application Requirements
- Completed Online Application Form
- Copy of score submitted to Dr. Fowler
- Consent to audition by applied teacher and staff accompanist (by September 9 if using an accompanist); verify consent on application
- Live audition for CMF Student Recital Committee: Wednesday, September 23 beginning at 6:00 pm.
Application Deadlines
- If requesting an accompanist, submit request to the staff accompanist by September 9
- Submit Online Application Form by Wednesday, September 16
- Submit a copy of the score to Dr. Kurt Fowler by Wednesday, September 16
- If chosen, program notes and performer biographies due to online form by Monday, October 5
Applications not complete by the application due date date will not be considered
Contact information: Dr. Kurt Fowler 812-237-2743 / Kurt.Fowler@indstate.edu
2025 Music Now Contest Winners
Daniel Cui
Muddleheaded for violin, clarinet, and piano (2023)
Jacob Frost
Běda for tenor sax and piano (2024)
Kevin Grant
Flourish for Pierrot Ensemble (2024)
Kyle Henkel
A Map of Non-Existent Dreams for clarinet and soprano saxophone (2018, 2025)
Jason Wise
Rondo for string quartet (2025)
2024 Music Now Contest Winners
Erin Busch
Refract for solo cello (2022)
Corey Chang
Luminous Chroma for violin and guitar (2023)
Alexandros Darnan
Minnaloushe for violin, marimba, vibraphone, and piano (2019)
Andrew Hannon
Respire for Bb clarinet and fixed audio (2021)
Cooper Wood
Celestial Bodies for flute, alto saxophone, violin, cello, and piano (2024)
2023 Music Now Contest Winners
Deniz Caglarcan (b. 1992)
Void for Viola and Fixed Electronics (2022)
Nichagarn Chiracharasporn (b. 2001)
Streaming Music for String Quartet (2022)
Andrew Hannon (b. 1977)
respire (2021)
David Jones (b.1990)
Canzona for Brass Quintet (2022)
Mendel Lee (b. 1975) The Spaces Between for Percussion Ensemble (2020, revised 2021)
Kian Ravaei (b. 1999)
Unstoppable for clarinet, violin, violoncello, and piano (2022)
Monte Taylor (b. 1991)
Sigil II: Amistad (2019)
Lyu Wenbin (b. 1994)
Glow for Saxophone Quartet (2022)