For further information, call (713) 348-2567 or email gottsch@rice.edu

The Society of Composers, Inc., Region VI Conference will be held Feb. 9-11, 2006, at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas. Scores will be accepted from all composers, with preference for scores by composers residing in Region VI. All composers selected for performance during the conference must attend the conference, and become members of SCI if they are not already members. Scores will be accepted from students only if they reside in Region VI, and subject to the previous provisions.

Call for Submissions

Composers are invited to submit scores for the following performers and ensembles:

• Attacca Percussion Group (three Shepherd School alumni percussionist members of the U.S. Air Force Band who are special guest performers of the conference)
• The Enso String Quartet (Shepherd School quartet in residence)
• Syzygy (Shepherd School faculty new music group)
• the Shepherd Singers (SATB chamber choir under the direction of Thomas Jaber)
• the Shepherd Brass Choir (max.inst.: 6 tpts., 6 hns., 4 tbns, 2 tubas, perc., under the direction of Marie Speziale)
• the Shepherd Wind Ensemble (orchestra woodwind and horn section, under the direction of Janet Rarick)
• Brian Connelly (artist teacher of piano)
• REMLabs (the electroacoustic and multimedia resources of the Shepherd School under the direction of Kurt Stallmann)
• The Shepherd Percussion Ensemble (up to 9 players under the direction of Richard Brown)
• and any solos or ensembles drawn from the standard performing resources of an orchestra conservatory, including voice(s).

Additional guest performers and composer may be announced at a later date.

Submission Deadline: September 30, 2005 (receipt).

Please submit no more than three pieces that may be performed by the resources listed above. Submissions that include resources beyond those listed above will be considered only if the composer provides the performer(s), and indicates such in the submission. Electroacoustic music and pieces for live performer(s) with electronics or other media are welcomed; we will be hosting these event with an 8-channel playback system, and are equipped to handle CDs, DVDs, and multi-channel audio played from computer. We support VHS, DVD, and compressed files using QuickTime for computer playback. MiniDV will also be supported, but the playback device will have to be supplied by the composer. A Mac will be available running Max/MSP and Protools (in OSX) with 8-channel audio I/O through either MOTU 828 or HD96. A Kyma/Capybara system with 4-channel I/O (standard 4 processors/96 MB of RAM) will also be available. All other software or hardware must be provided by the composer.

In addition to the performance materials, please submit accurate program information (composer name, date of birth, date of composition, composition medium, performer names, and program notes). Submissions must include: score and (if available) separate cassette or CD recording for each work submitted (MIDI OK); program notes; and a contact sheet with composer’s name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail address, a list of the pieces submitted with their durations, and a brief bio. If an SASE is provided, materials will be returned, else they will be archived in a dusty corner to suffer the neglect of all the ages to come.

Selection will be made by Shepherd School ensemble directors and faculty performers, in conjunction with faculty composers.

Mail all submissions to: