"This signature event year after year brings home to Houston audiences the reason we believe in Robert Avalon's dream...Every day, musicians are still creating notes that must leave the page in order to realize their magic. The foundation launches their music."
Joel Luks,
Culture Map, May 19, 2012
THE ROBERT AVALON INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR COMPOSERS
Applications for 2022-23 season are closed; results will be posted in Competition History after contestants are informed. Foundation for Modern Music has set the following final entry date to receive scores for the 2023-24 Robert Avalon International Competition for Composers.
DEADLINE (extended): Electronic submittal by February 21, 2024.
The competition is open to junior, high school, college and professional composers, with awards for first and second place in each category. The top two winners in all divisions other than Junior will also have the opportunity to hear their works publicly performed and recorded during FMM’s season.
FMM is pleased to announce the addition of a short film score division. For details about both this and the general competition, please see the guidelines section.
Through the competition, Foundation for Modern Music honors its late Artistic Director Robert Avalon, who helped develop and initiate several important new projects for the Foundation, including this competition for young, college and mid-career composers. In the spirit of Robert, who devoted himself tirelessly to the encouragement and education of young musicians throughout the Houston area, we look forward to another year of submissions from some of the freshest, most fascinating musical minds in Houston and beyond.
GUIDELINES & RULES
Applications Deadline: February 21, 2024 (extended)
Eligibility (Four Categories):
Junior – Open to student composers enrolled through 8th grade as of May 1, 2024, and not older than 15. There is no lower age limit, but compositions should be of a mature level suitable for public performance.
High school – Open to student composers enrolled through 12th grade as of May 1, 2024 and not older than 19. Compositions should be of a mature level suitable for public performance.
University/Emerging Artist – Open to composers born on or after June 1, 1994.
Career Professional – No age limit.
Any individual may enter a higher category, but must choose only one. Past winners are not disqualified if entering different works. Multiple submissions are acceptable if remitting a separate entry fee for each piece.
Prizes:
Professional – First Place $1000 cash award, Second Place $750 cash award.
University/Emerging Artist – First Place $750 cash award, Second Place $500 cash award.
Junior and High School – First Place $150 cash award, Second Place $75 cash award.
Judges:
FMM will appoint a panel of at least two depending on the entry numbers. Internationally acclaimed composers and performers on past panels have included William Bolcom, Kyong-Mee Choi, Edmund Cionek, Colin Eatock, Carlisle Floyd, Gabriela Frank, Arthur Gottschalk, Daron Hagen, Ted Hearne, Laura Jackson, Anne LeBaron, Tania Léon, Carman Moore, Christopher Theofanidis, Juan Trigos, Mary Carol Warwick, and Barbara White.
Full guidelines and application download
Judges:
FMM will appoint a panel of at least two depending on the entry numbers. Internationally acclaimed composers and performers on past panels have included William Bolcom, Kyong-Mee Choi, Edmund Cionek, Colin Eatock, Carlisle Floyd, Gabriela Frank, Arthur Gottschalk, Daron Hagen, Ted Hearne, Laura Jackson, Anne LeBaron, Tania Léon, Carman Moore, Christopher Theofanidis, Juan Trigos, Mary Carol Warwick, and Barbara White.
Application Fee (non-refundable):
Funds received are devoted exclusively to competition activities, primarily to fairly compensating world-renowned composers for ample time and effort in judging new works. For a listing of former judges and competition winners, please see the competition history.
We are pleased to offer secure online application fee payment through PayPal for your convenience. You may also mail payment as described above.
Junior Division – $30
High School – $30
University/Emerging Artist – $40
Career Professional – $75
HISTORY, PAST WINNERS AND JUDGES
Launched in 2006 as a local competition for high school students in Houston, the Robert Avalon Competition for Composers began expanding and added the college category to encourage students through exposure and cash prizes. The popularity of the event grew and soon after the category for 'professional' was soon added. A key component of the event is that composers of all ages and experience are able to participate, as it stands as one of few events of its type to not discriminate against 'age'. The expansion in categories helped the event reach a worldwide footprint where it has received applications from Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa; in all, from around the world. In addition to not posing age or geographical restrictions, the incredible and distinguished panel of judges helps composers by getting feedback on their work; the latter, one of the prerequisites judges have to be part of the process. For many participants being a finalist and/or winner has helped them in catapulting their careers in their countries of origin, showing the value and power it has in furthering and launching careers. Our vision continues to evolve as the times do, where as needed, more categories are added in an effort to always be encouraging and supporting creativity as it was center to Robert Avalon's dedication to not only promote his works but that of others.
Click on icon below to learn more about past winners and judges.