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For more information on this competition, see the details below.

Purpose

The TCDA Emily Crocker Emerging Composer Competition is designed to encourage young composers of choral music for the middle school ensemble. 

Eligibility

Composers must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be a current TCDA member (including out-of-state residents)
• Must agree to relinquish publishing rights to Hal Leonard (with appropriate royalty contracts, etc).
• Must be 35 years or younger. Composers older than 35 years, if unpublished, may also submit works for consideration.
• Must submit a $35 application fee per submission.

Compositions should adhere to the following requirements:

• Compositions should be suitable for performance by middle school (grades 7 & 8) Mixed, Treble, or Tenor-Bass ensembles with appropriate consideration given to vocal range, tessitura, and compositional complexity for this age group.
• Voicing should be SATB, SSA, or TTB with limited or no divisi. 
• Compositions must be original. Source material for arrangements should be limited to music within the public domain. 
• Submissions should not have been previously published.
• Text must be in the public domain unless the composer possesses written consent from the copyright holder to make use of the source material. 
• Compositions may be accompanied or unaccompanied. Unaccompanied works should include a piano reduction in the score.
• Compositions between two and four minutes in length will receive priority consideration.

Submission 

Scores should be submitted in pdf format with the composer’s name removed. Text with translation (if applicable) and proper permissions (if applicable) must be submitted with the score. A recording may be submitted but is not required.

Adjudication

Compositions will be evaluated by a committee and approved by the TCDA Board of Directors. The TCDA Board reserves the right not to name a winner if the adjudication panel does not recommend an entry for the award.

Prize

The winning composer will receive:

• $750 cash prize.
• Featured at the 2027 TCDA Convention.
• One night of hotel accommodation in San Antonio to attend the premiere during the Summer Convention.
• Opportunity for publication through Hal Leonard pending editorial and publisher approval.