The Vienna Symphonic Library have announced a one-of-kind scoring competition in cooperation with Hollywood Music Workshop. Participants are invited to compose a suite, inspired by certain scenes from the movies The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or The Wolfman. A jury of renowned Hollywood composers including Christopher Young, as well as industry pros such as Dennis Sands (Film Music Recording/Mixing/Re-Recording Mixer & Producer, four-time Oscar nominee) and Paul Broucek (President, Music, Warner Bros. Pictures), will determine the best scores. Awards include a $10,000 cash prize for the winner, plus additional prizes in the form of Vienna Symphonic Library products worth $4,000, as well as a scholarship for a future Hollywood Music Workshop. The ten best submissions in addition to the top three entries will be presented at the HMW and VSL websites on October 15, 2014 and will be announced by Sound On Sound.
The competition is open to all international composers, regardless of age. The suite with a length of up to five minutes must be composed and orchestrated primarily for symphonic instruments. These instruments are required to be played or programmed using Vienna Symphonic Library products (e.g., Vienna Instruments Collections, Vienna Special Editions, Single Instruments). The term symphonic does not give any indication of the size of the ensemble; compositions for solo instruments, chamber ensembles and large symphonic orchestras including choir and more will all be accepted. Supplemental material from non-VSL sound sources such as synthesizers, guitars, vocals, drums, percussion loops, ethnic instruments, sound effects and any other non-orchestral sounds may be used in their function to support the work as long as they don’t dominate the orchestral arrangement of the suite. The works must be submitted as MP3 files along with the project files of the sequencer or notation program that was used to create the recording (e.g., Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer, Pro Tools, Finale, Sibelius, etc.). No live orchestral recordings may be used. The compositions have to be original works. The entry fee is $30 per submission. A contestant may submit more than one entry.
All registrations must be submitted by July 15th, and all MP3s and project files must be submitted by August 15th.
All rules and regulations may be found at the address below.
