International Composition Competition

Founded in 1973, Garth Newel Music Center is one of the most active chamber music organizations in the country. Its resident ensemble—the Garth Newel Piano Quartet—performs over 60 concerts annually both at the Center and on tour. Through this competition, the Quartet seeks to broaden the piano quartet repertoire and to support the Center’s ongoing commitment to contemporary music.

The International Composition Competition attracts submissions from around the world, with recent entries arriving from countries including South Korea, Peru, Hungary, Italy, and across the United States.

13th International Composition Competition

Prizes

The winner will receive:

Glorvina and Richard Lynn New Music Prize ($3000)
A performance of the winning work by the Garth Newel Piano Quartet during Garth Newel Music Center’s 2026 Summer Music Festival.
A travel stipend of up to $1000 to travel to Garth Newel Music Center (Hot Springs, VA) to be in residence, introduce and attend the world premiere of their piece.
Livestream and video recording of the live premiere.
Multiple performances of the winning work by the Garth Newel Piano Quartet.
The opportunity to participate in a short-term residency in conjunction with the premiere. This residency will take place during Garth Newel’s prestigious Emerging Artist Fellowship chamber music program.
- The winner will have the opportunity to attend rehearsals with Garth Newel Piano Quartet and the Emerging Artist Fellows, with the possibility of readings and performances of additional chamber works by the composer.
- Collaborate and network with talented musicians from the top music schools.

Guidelines

Submitted works must be for violin, viola, cello and piano. Piano trios and quintets are not accepted.
There is no time limit for works.
Submissions from any composer, regardless of age or citizenship, are welcome.
The work must be originally conceived as a piano quartet. Arrangements of previously completed works that have been performed or published are not acceptable
Submissions from any composer are welcome. Garth Newel Music Center is an equal opportunity organization and will not allow discrimination based upon age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or any other status prohibited by applicable law

Compositions Are Ineligible If:

They require live electronics or cannot be performed with just stereo playback
The work has already received a professional premiere. (A student performance within the school community is allowed).
They are a transcription or arrangement of another work that has been performed or published.
They have already been professionally recorded for commercial CD release.
The work, in any instrumentation, has been published.

SUBMISSION

Physical Submission

One legible score and parts labeled with a pseudonym
No identifying marks on the score
An envelope labeled with the pseudonym containing the composer’s contact information and a one-paragraph biography
A digital recording labeled with the pseudonym (CDs, flash drives, or MIDI realizations accepted)
A self-addressed stamped envelope if materials are to be returned

Mail to:

Composition Competition
Garth Newel Music Center
403 Garth Newel Lane
Hot Springs, VA 24445

Electronic Submission

Email the score, parts, and audio file under a pseudonym to pianoquartet@garthnewel.org, with the composer’s information in a separate document labeled “do not open until after the results are determined.”
Please use “ *your pseudonym* – 13th Garth Newel Piano Quartet Competition submission” as the subject heading.
Large files may be sent via Dropbox or Google Drive. Please label the titles of digital tracks with the composition name as well as the composer’s pseudonym.

RETURN TO TOP

DEADLINE

All materials must be received by 11:59pm on November 1, 2027. Applicants will be notified of the result by e-mail no later than January 31, 2028.

For questions, please contact: jeannette@garthnewel.org

Submission of a composition constitutes a warranty that the work is original and does not infringe on the copyright of another party. The winning composer retains copyright and grants the Garth Newel Piano Quartet an exclusive one-year license to perform the work. Subsequent performances must acknowledge that the work was composed for and premiered by the Garth Newel Piano Quartet.

RETURN TO TOP