Maria Anna Mozart Award

Applications are now open for Symphony Nova Scotia’s groundbreaking Maria Anna Mozart Award for women composers across Canada! The winners compose an original work for orchestra which is then premiered by Symphony Nova Scotia.

Learn more about the award winners:

The Maria Anna Mozart Award was inspired by Dr. Jane Gordon, (BA, MA, PhD) who taught Sociology and Women’s Studies in Halifax for almost 40 years. Gordon’s research has been published in academic journals in sociology and feminist studies and as chapters in books. She is a long-time Symphony Nova Scotia attendee, and has a keen interest in the role of women in classical music.

General Description

Launched in 2016, the Maria Anna Mozart Award supports the work of Canadian women composers, providing $10,000 for Symphony Nova Scotia to commission and perform a new symphonic work by a Canadian woman. The Award recipient will compose an original orchestral work for performance by Symphony Nova Scotia during an upcoming concert. The Maria Anna Mozart Award is the first symphony-sponsored award in Canada exclusively for women composers.

Selection Process

Applicants are asked to submit a résumé, completed application form, sample scores of up to three completed works (one scored for full symphony orchestra), and supporting audio or visual representation of at least one (preferably the symphonic) work. Composers will be judged on existing works by a committee formed by Symphony Nova Scotia. The application materials must be received by Thursday, February 29, 2024, and the winner will be notified in May 2024. The winning composer will receive a cash award of $10,000 to be paid upon delivery of the parts and score to Symphony Nova Scotia. They will also receive an archival recording of the performance and assistance in promoting the work to other orchestras.

Performance

The Award will be granted to the successful applicant for a composition of approximately 10 minutes for the core orchestra (*2*2*22 2200 timp str (8.6.4.4.2)) with the option of up to three (3) additional orchestral parts at the discretion of the composer, in consultation with Symphony Nova Scotia. The work composed by the winning composer will be performed by Symphony Nova Scotia in the 2025/26 season. The composer will be required to be in Halifax for all rehearsals and performances, and will agree to participate in education activities, pre-concert lectures, symposiums, etc., as requested by Symphony Nova Scotia. The composer’s travel and accommodation expenses will be paid by Symphony Nova Scotia. The winning composer will be responsible for professionally copying the work to specifications provided by Symphony Nova Scotia.

Eligibility

To be considered for this prize, you or your nominee must:

  • be an emerging or established composer;
  • identify as a woman or non-binary; and
  • be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (you do not need to be living in Canada when you apply). First Nations, Inuit, and Métis composers are welcome to apply.

Please note: eligible individuals can apply for this award or be nominated by others.

Requirements

To prepare your application, please include the following:

  1. A cover letter or letter of interest that includes potential creative vision(s) for your composition if you are the winner (PDF).
  2. A résumé or biography (PDF).
  3. A completed application form (PDF).
  4. Sample original scores of up to three completed works of at least five minutes in duration, one scored for 25 or more orchestral instruments (PDF).
  5. Supporting audio and/or visual representation of at least one work, preferably the orchestral (MP3 for audio/MP4 for video).

Format

All application documents must be submitted in electronic format (PDF and MP3/MP4) for ease of sharing amongst the committee. All documents should be shared with a link to a single cloud folder (OneDrive, DropBox, Google Drive, etc.).

Please note: the following formats will NOT be accepted: printed documents (cover letter, résumé/biography, application form, scores); physical copies of recordings (i.e. CDs or DVDs); or links to samples of work via public streaming services (i.e. YouTube or BandCamp).

Submission

Please save all elements of your application in a single cloud folder and then email the link to [email protected] with the subject line Maria Anna Mozart Award.

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59 pm AT.

Questions

Please read the instructions carefully and refer to the application checklist before submitting your application. If at that time you have questions about the Award or the application process, you can email [email protected].