NEW CONDUCTORS ORCHESTRA RECEIVES NEARLY 400 RESPONSES TO ITS LATEST “CALL FOR SCORES”
September 30, 2024 | Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church, New York, NY
New York, NY – The New Conductors Orchestra (NCO) is proud to announce that we have received nearly 400 submissions from composers around the world responding to our latest Call for Scores. This overwhelming response marks a significant milestone in our commitment to nurturing the next generation of musical talent.
Our second Call for Scores closed on September 15th, 2024, and it invited works from aspiring and talented professional composers for the upcoming New Composers, New Conductors: 2025 concert series,on February 22nd and 23rd, 2025. This initiative continues NCO’s mission of providing valuable platforms for emerging composers to showcase their work alongside young conductors, encouraging a collaborative environment that champions the future of orchestral music.
“We are incredibly proud to have received so many submissions this year,” said Mark Powell, NCO’s Lead Conductor. “It’s a testament to the passion and creativity of young composers across the globe, and it speaks volumes about the vibrant community of musicians dedicated to expanding the classical repertoire. By offering these opportunities, we’re not only helping launch careers but also ensuring that classical music remains dynamic and relevant.”
The Call for Scores attracted compositions from a diverse array of composers across many continents, building upon the success of NCO’s first Call in 2022, which featured nine talented winners over two years of exceptional performances. In line with our commitment to accessibility, NCO required no application fee for submissions, ensuring that financial barriers did not hinder the creative process for these up-and-coming composers.
NCO’s emphasis on showcasing renowned living composers in every concert cycle is part of its broader mission to make classical music more inclusive and representative of today’s diverse musical voices. This Call for Scores and the upcoming February concerts are designed to provide young composers the same opportunities that NCO offers to emerging conductors—promoting growth, encouraging innovation, and creating space for new interpretations of orchestral music.
Our February 2025 concerts, New Composers, New Conductors: 2025, will feature several of the selected works, highlighting the extraordinary talents of the composers chosen from this Call. Resubmissions from previous applicants were also welcome, demonstrating NCO’s ongoing dedication to cultivating long-term relationships with the musicians of tomorrow.
In an era where classical music must continually evolve to stay vibrant, this new wave of young composers is proving instrumental in keeping the genre alive and thriving.
About New Conductors Orchestra
Founded in 2019, the New Conductors Orchestra (NCO) is a unique community ensemble that champions the next generation of musical leaders. With no set conductor, NCO engages emerging talent from the conducting world, offering them the opportunity to lead dynamic, high-level performances. Through these concerts, NCO bridges the gap between formal conducting education and the professional world, while also featuring works by both classical and living composers. Under the guidance of Lead Conductor Mark Powell, NCO is determined to nurture a collaborative environment where conductors and musicians alike can shape their musical journey.
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