Rules and Regulation

The City of Belfort and the Wind Band of Belfort are organizing the second edition of the International Composition Contest for Wind band.

The contest aims to enrich the catalog of original music for Wind orchestra with one added Modern Music Band.
All styles and all musical forms are allowed. All forms of sound effects are also accepted. Transcriptions are prohibited.

The contest is open to participants of all countries with no age limit. The deadline for registration is May 6th, 2022. The deadline for submission of scores is May 18^th 2022.

Throughout the contest, the score must be royalty-free, copyright free and unpublished.

Participation in the contest is free; in return, the composers selected during the playoffs agree to mention the name of « Sélection Officielle du Concours International de Composition - Belfort 2022 » on all visual and audio media showing the title of the work: publication of sheet music, CD publications, DVDs, books, programmes, posters, etc...

As a result, the works selected shall include the mention « Sélection Officielle du Concours International de Composition - Belfort 2022 ». The works of finalists shall include the mention « Œuvre Finaliste du Concours International de Composition - Belfort 2022» ; and finally the winning works shall include the mention « Lauréat du Concours International de Composition - Belfort 2022», specifying the type of prize they obtained.

The style and degree of difficulty are around 4^th level.
However, in order to make the interpretation of the work accessible to a maximum number of Wind Band (level of difficulty 3-4 out of 6 on the international reference scale), the composer must provide "ossia" or a "default" to substitute for the instrumental parts which are too difficult for levels 3-4. These terms will appear on the score and the orchestral material. The failure to meet this obligation will result systematically and irrevocably in the elimination of the score during the selection trials. The duration of the work must be between 8 and 12 minutes.

The work must be presented as a full score. Separate parts must be attached to the score. The score must be printed in two-sided A3 format. Separate parts will be printed in two-sided A4 format.
No indication of the identity of the composer must appear on the score (or on the separate parts). Only the title must be indicated on the envelope (see section 9). Musical indications are noted in French, English or Italian.

The composer may also join a text to the score to present his work as well as an audio or video recording.(MP3,WAV,WMA,MID,etc.)

The orchestration of the work must include the following parts:

a) For Wind Band

• Piccolo Flute (C)
• Flutes 1-2 (C)
• Oboe 1-2 (C)
• Bassoon 1-2 (C)
• Eb Clarinet
• Clarinets (Bb) 1-2-3
• Bass Clarinet (Bb)
• Alto Saxophones 1-2 (Eb)
• Tenor Saxophone 1-2 (Bb)
• Baritone Saxophone (Eb)
• Trumpets 1-2-3 (Bb)
• Horns 1-2-3-4 (F)
• Trombones 1-2-3 (C) with one bass trombone
• Euphoniums (C) and/or Baritone Saxhorns 1-2 (Bb)
• Tuba (C) and/or Bass Tuba (Bb)
• String Bass
• Timpani
• Percussions (5 players max)

Authorized optional instruments:

• English Horn (F)
• Alto Clarinet (Eb)
• Soprano Saxophone (Bb)
• Flugelhorn (Bb)
• Cello
• Harp
• Piano

The specific nomenclature of the work as well as details of the percussion instruments used must appear on the cover page of the score.

b) For the Modern Music Group (in choice among theses proposals)

• 1 or 2 parts of Melody : vocal with/or instrumental in choice
• 1 ou 2 rythmics/chords : Guitar/ piano/Synthesizer...
• Bass : Bass Guitar or Double bass or other instrumental bass
• Drums or percussions
• Number of players : 5 max.

The work must be sent in the following way:

a) Put the full score in an envelope indicating only its title.

b) A second sealed envelope containing the following information : name, first name, sex, nationality, full address and email-address, country, phone number, date and place of birth, title of the work, as well as a statement signed and dated by the composer stating that his work is unpublished (see article 4).

This information must be in French or English. On this second sealed envelope – the title of the work and the reference "confidential" must be written. These two envelopes must be put into a single envelope to which an audio or video recording of the score can be added.

c) The document must be sent by registered mail before May 18^th 2022 to the following address:

Mairie de Belfort
M. Xavier Scheid
Place d’Armes
90000 BELFORT
France

The jury, composed of internationally renowned artists (composers, conductors, performers, ...) will judge the qualifying rounds in June 2022.

At the end of the jury’s deliberation, composers whose works have been selected will be informed by email of their qualification for the following round of the contest.

The works selected for the final round will be interpreted by the Wind Band of Belfort and professional players for the Modern Musical Band will be judged during a public concert in Belfort. The final will take place on December 4^th or 5^th  2022.

The results will be announced at the end of the final of the competition. The following prizes will be awarded:

• 1^St Prize: 4 000 €
• 2^nd Prize: 2 000 €
• 3^rd Prize: 1 000 €

Special prizes may be awarded by the jury.

The jury reserves the right not to award prizes.

Only one work per composer will be accepted.

Scores (printed or manuscripts) submitted to this competition will not be returned to composers.

The works selected for the final round will be interpreted by the Wind Band of Belfort and professional players for the Modern Musical Band will be judged during a public concert in Belfort. The final will take place on December 4^th or 5^th  2022.

The French version of this regulation will be the official version of reference in the case of a dispute.

The decision of the jury is final.