The American Prize
Thomas Putsché Award in Composition—Opera/Theater/Musical Theater/Film/Dance, 2024-25
EXTENDED DEADLINE (because of many requests): Tuesday, Sept 24, 2024, with extensions available by email request. Questions? Email: theamericanprize@gmail.com
The American Prize in Composition recognizes and rewards the best composers in America of works for orchestra, chorus, concert band, chamber ensemble, theater, opera, dance or film. Although readings or recorded performances of music in the composition contests is preferred, we accept midi or computer generated performances in all divisions. A separate category for works composers themselves would consider light music or "pops" may be accessed via the orchestra, choral, band or chamber music composition contest pages. Composers may also wish to apply for the ERNST BACON MEMORIAL AWARD for the PERFORMANCE of AMERICAN MUSIC, being offered in broad categories. Select "American Music" in the competitions menu, above. The deadline for the Bacon contest is later.
The American Prize THOMAS PUTSCHE AWARD in Composition (opera/theater/film/dance division), remembers the artistry of the American, Thomas Putsché (poo-shay), composer of the once celebrated, now nearly forgotten chamber opera, The Cat and the Moon, based on the play and poem by William Butler Yeats. Written in 1957 and recorded by the Contemporary Chamber Players of the University of Chicago for CRI, The Cat and the Moon, was, in the words of David Katz, founder and chief judge of The American Prize, “a seminal discovery in my young life as a musician, displaying stunning craftsmanship and deep feeling, it seems now to epitomize the reasons I created The American Prize competitions—to bring recognition and reward to artists and to works that might otherwise go unheralded. It was my personal choice to rename this division of The American Prize in Composition in Tom Putsché’s memory, a man I had the honor to know at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford in the 1970s and whose opera remains fundamental in memory to this day.”
Thomas Putsché (1929-1983), B.A., University of Chicago, the Juilliard School, B.M. and M.M. the Hartt School of Music, Crofts Scholarship, Tanglewood Scholarship, MacDowell Colony Fellowship, Princeton University Fellowship, BMI Composition Prize, Lund Commission, Composers Forum, ASCAP, student of Milton Babbitt, Aaron Copland, Arnold Franchetti and Vittorio Giannini.
The American Prize is more than monetary. The Prize grew from the belief that a great deal of excellent music being made in this country goes unrecognized and unheralded, not only in our major cities, but all across the country...in schools and churches, in colleges and universities, and by community and professional musicians. Laureates of The American Prize at all levels of achievement derive local, regional and national recognition to help generate jobs, build audiences and sustain careers. Semi-finalists, finalists and winners are announced to national arts media and on our websites, where winners are profiled. Semi-finalists, finalists and winners earn the right to use The American Prize logo and official seal on printed programs and other documents, and on the web. Thousands of artists have derived benefit from their participation in the contests of The American Prize.
SEMI-FINALISTS: All semi-finalists receive official certificates.
FINALISTS and RUNNERS-UP: All finalists receive certificates and short comments about their audition. Runners-up receive certificates and written, unbiased evaluations from our distinguished national panel of judges. When winners are announced on The American Prize blog, RUNNERS-UP are also profiled on the blog with their photos, biographies and website links.
WINNERS: A single winner in each category and/or division is selected. Winners receive certificates, written evaluations, personalized press releases sent by us to local media and other contacts you provide as part of your application, and cash prizes up to $500, depending on the year, the category and the number of entrants. Only with your explicit permission, excerpts of winning performances may be posted to The American Prize channel on YouTube.
The judges reserve the right to award citations and honorable mentions as warranted, and to combine categories when necessary. The decision of the judges is final.
DOWNLOAD OPERA/THEATER/FILM/DANCE COMPOSITION APPLICATION HERE (PDF)
OVERVIEW:
The American Prize in Composition is offered in six divisions: works for orchestra, chorus, concert band, chamber ensemble, theater (including opera, dance and film), or pops, and in three categories, based on your education and experience. You may make application in any division or in all. Works for chorus and orchestra or chorus and concert band performing together should be submitted in the Choral Division. Works composers themselves would consider "pops" should be submitted using the "POPS" application on the band, orchestra or choral composition contest pages.
The three categories are:
1. professional composer
2. college/university (student) composer (actively engaged in learning the art & craft of composition in a school or other educational setting)
3. high school composer
New MARIAN ANDERSON AWARD IN SOCIAL JUSTICE:Any applicant may self-nominate for this additional award, either because of personal circumstances, or in recognition of the nature of the repertoire provided in the audition. This is a subcategory of the main contests for which a separate prize will be awarded, should there be enough entrants. There is no additional application fee required to be considered in the additional category. Simply highlight the designation on the application form. The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts, based in Danbury, Connecticut, is honored to rename its Social Justice award in memory of the internationally acclaimed contralto and longtime Danbury resident, Marian Anderson. Henceforth to be known as The American Prize Marian Anderson Award in Social Justice, the award honors the extraordinary legacy of one of America’s greatest performing artists, while annually recognizing and rewarding The American Prize laureate who best exemplifies the singer’s courage and trailblazing fortitude as an artist of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. Questions? Please email Maestro Katz at theamericanprize@gmail.com
ELIGIBILITY:
The competitions of The American Prize are open to all U.S. citizens, whether living in this country or abroad, and to others who have lived, worked or studied (or are currently living, working and/or studying) in the United States of America, its protectorates and territories. The American Prize does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, gender, age, spiritual or personal belief, disability, sexual preference or gender identification. All application fees must be remitted in U.S. funds.
HOW TO APPLY:
Every applicant must send certain required information by email.
Applicants can then complete their application either of two ways:
A. ONLINE PRIMARILY: pay fees online, submit the downloaded application as a PDF or scan, along with the required emailed information (see application form), include PDFs of scores and links to performances of your music online. Application forms for The American Prize can be filled out on computer, saved and emailed by using Adobe Reader 11. Download it free here.
—or—
B. BY MAIL & EMAIL: mail the completed, downloaded application form, send scores, and recordings of your music on disc to the office, and email the required information (see application form), pay fees online, or by check, money order or credit card.
PROCEDURE:
1. Download the application form for The American Prize in Composition—Opera/Theater/Film/Dance Division. On the form, select the category which best identifies the applicant.
2. MAIL the completed application form by the deadline date or EMAIL it as a PDF attachment with your required email.
3. If providing recorded selections of your music ONLINE, include the links to them in your required email (see application form.)
4. If providing recorded selections of your music BY MAIL, include two identical recordings of the composition(s), with the composer, conductor, ensemble and work clearly indicated both on the recording and on the sleeve or box. Be sure both list applicant's name.
5. All applicants: Attach PDFs of scores with your application or send by mail TWO identical bound copies of each complete score (no reduced or short scores.) Provide a self-addressed envelope (minimum size 11x14 inches and PRIORITY postage—no stamps please) if you would like scores returned.
6. Be sure to sign the form and pay the application fee. Pay ONLINE, if you wish, (click "FEES/GIFTS" in the menu bar, above), or use this link: "Pay competition fees", or send check, money order or credit card information by mail.
7. Be sure to email the required information (see application form.)
The application fee is $65 per application. Pay ONLINE (click "FEES/GIFTS" in the menu bar, above) or use this iink: "Pay competition fees" pay by credit card, or make checks payable to HCMT/The American Prize (see application form.) Application fees are nonrefundable. No incomplete applications will be accepted. When paying online, BE SURE to identify the applicant with the payment. Parents, teachers and others interested in applying for a David Daniels Scholarship, which covers up to 80% of application fees to The American Prize contests for high school-age students only (currently enrolled or home schooled in any U.S. state, territory or protectorate), please write to David Katz, chief judge of The American Prize, at theamericanprize@gmail.com. Place the words "Daniels Scholarship Endowment" in the subject line of the email. To learn more about David Daniels and the scholarship created in his memory, please click to visit the article on our blog.
REQUIREMENTS for the RECORDED AUDITION
The American Prize in Composition—Opera/Theater/Film/Dance Division is designed to evaluate and reward composers of works for "theater" which have already been performed or read and recorded. The performance may be by students, community, or professional musicians. Since COVID, "midi" or computer generated performances are also acceptable. Do not block out your name on scores. Composers do not remain anonymous.
A "work for theater" is defined as any composition that is intented for theatrical (staged) performance, including opera, chamber opera, music theater, performance art, dance, installations, incidental music for plays, film, television or internet. (This definition is purposely broad to allow the largest number of potential contestants to be eligible.) We seek to welcome the greatest variety of composers of theater music from throughout the country, including those that may feature electronic elements, either prerecorded or performed live. If you have questions about eligibility for a particular work, please email theamericanprize@gmail.com.
Complete works should be submitted when possible, or, at minimum, a major segment, scene or act. If sending recordings by mail, performers, works and composer must be clearly identified on the disc and on the cover or box. Because the judges wish to be able to experience both the visual and/or dramatic aspects of the work in relation to the musical, we prefer (but no longer require) online links or DVD recordings of the music in theatrical performance. There are no other restrictions. No scores will be returned without a self-addressed envelope (minimum size 11x14 inches) and PRIORITY postage, no stamps please.
There is no restriction as to when the composition was created.
A. If sending recordings BY MAIL, performers, works and composer must be identified on the disc and on the cover or box.
B. If submitting ONLINE links to your recordings, include in your required email. Be sure to identify the links by composer and title of the selection and provide any passwords necessary, so judges can easily access your materials. Links must remain active until the end of the contest year. PLEASE NOTE: The responsibility for the viability of links rests with the contestant. Please double-check that they work correctly.
SEND required email to: theamericanprize@gmail.com
Completed applications will be confirmed by email.
GENERAL TIMELINE for this competition:
In general, the competition process is completed over a number of months. Semi-finalists are selected in-house, then finalists are announced in the winter & spring, followed by winners —after which all certificates, evaluations and prizes are mailed. Specific dates for the announcement of each stage of the competition are posted in regular updates to the competition's blog and facebook pages. Find those links on the homepage of this website.
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The American Prize competitions are administered by Hat City Music Theater, Inc. (HCMT), the 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization based in Danbury, CT.