Previous Calls

Call for Scores: Iron Giant Collaboration

Concert Date(s): TBD Fall 2024

Submission Deadlines:

  • Notification of participation: November 1, 2023
  • Submission of score: May 15, 2024

How to Submit: email with subject “Iron Giant Collaboration”

Concert Locations: TBD community venues

Instrumentation: Undefined (Read the “What” section below)

Duration: No specific duration.

Who: Iron Giant (Sam Herman, Brett Huffman, Seth Noble, and Justin Wallace)

What: A concert series of scalable compositions to be performed in several different community spaces in Birmingham — such as parks, galleries, and libraries. Scores should be adaptable to completely different settings and instrumentation. Iron Giant primarily function as a quartet but may expand the ensemble for some programs. Some approaches to composition include:

  • indeterminate instrumentation, duration, number of performers, and/or octave displacement
  • graphic or recipe notation (see Feldman and Oliveros)
  • an existing piece that is conducive to adaptation by Iron Giant

Examples of compositions follow. Most of the links are performances with a score displayed. There are multiple performances of many of these works on YouTube.

Iron Giant are willing to present a workshop and/or participate in a Zoom call for informal Q&A. They will be available for composers to contact as questions arise.

Before November 1, notify if planning to compose for this project. Please also indicate if you would like to participate in a workshop or call with Iron Giant, both, or neither. 

When: 

  • Concerts to be in Fall of 2024
  • BAMA request for participation to end November 1, 2023
  • BAMA call for scores to end May 15, 2024
  • Workshop/Zoom call TBD, if enough interest

2023 Summer Concert

Concert: 2023 Summer Concert
Submission Deadline: April 30, 2023
Performance Date: May 23, 24, or 25 (Exact date TBD)
Venue: TBD

Instrumentation: String Trio (Viola, Violin, Cello) + Piano – May submit for any combination except solo piano.

How to submit: Send the information below to  by April 30, 2023

Composer Name:
Title:
Approximate Length (no longer than 10 minutes):
PDF Copies of Score

Call for Scores: Iron Giant Collaboration

Concert Date: August (Exact Date TBD)

Submission Deadlines:

· Notification of general interest: March 25, 2022

· Submission of score: May 31, 2022

Submission:  with title “Iron Giant Collaboration”

Concert Location: Railroad Park and 2 more parks TBD

Instrumentation: Undefined (Read the “What” section below)

Duration: No specific duration, though the program will be for a total of 60 minutes of music.

Who:

BAMA collaboration with Iron Giant Percussion.  Iron Giant Percussion is a contemporary music ensemble based in Birmingham, Alabama.

What:

A concert series of pieces of indeterminate style/instrumentation to be performed at different parks in Birmingham. Each composer would write a piece of 2-4 parts for undetermined instruments. The parts can have descriptors on the type of sound such as “metallic”, “melodic”, etc. but it would not be for a specific instrument. Iron Giant would then choose the instrumentation to go along with the piece. The instruments won’t necessarily be your standard instruments (they’ve created xylophones from bottles for example).

Examples of compositions“In C” – Terry Riley.

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYBhX0UH04

· https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX96z7AuICs

· A workshop will also be provided by Iron Giant on writing for percussion/in an indeterminate style as well to assist the composers. Iron Giant will be available for composers to contact as they write their pieces after the workshop.

When: 

· Concert to be in the August timeframe

· BAMA request for general interest to end March 25

· BAMA call for scores to end May 31

· Workshop in late March (exact date TBD)

Where:

· 3 parks in total. 1 at Railroad Park, the other 2 TBD.

Other Notes:

· Each concert may have the same pieces (depending on the number of submissions), but it could be an entirely new experience based on the instruments used.

· Iron Giant has mentioned they have pieces from BAMA composers but often can’t perform them because of the instrumentation. This style of writing would allow them to continue to perform the pieces regardless of instrumentation at hand which can lead to continual promotion for our composers.

Please contact Eric Mobley  with questions.

Call for Scores: Chamber Music @ AEIVA, 2021

BAMA is partnering with the UAB concert series “Chamber Music @ AEIVA” to present a concert that connects music with the art exhibit “Marking Time,” which will be on display in the AEIVA galleries.

Concert date:  October 28, 2021, 5:30 or 6pm

Submission deadline: September 15, 2021

Concert location: Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts

Instrumentation: Any combination of guitar, piano, clarinet, violin, viola

Duration: No specific duration, though the program will total 30 – 45 minutes of music.

Requirements: Compositions must relate in some way to the art of exhibit “Marking Time”, an exhibit featuring 50+ works of amateur and professional visual artists impacted by the criminal justice system and mass incarceration. Themes include but are not limited to conveying the concept of time passing and highlighting every-day life that is missed.

Here is a summary of a similar exhibit: https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/5208

How to Submit:

   Include the following information with submission:

  • Composer
  • Title
  • Duration
  • Date of composition
  • Instrumentation
  • A brief description of how the piece relates to the exhibit’s work

Please send a PDF of your score and parts to . Recordings are welcome but not required.

Questions? Contact:

Call for Scores: What Can I See from Railroad Park

Concert dates: October 2021
Submission deadline: Proposal by 03/31/2021, performance materials by 8/15/2021
Venue: Railroad Park
Instrumentation: Saxophone Quartet, optional additional instruments and/or conductor

Submit a new work that is informed by something that is visible from Birmingham’s Railroad Park. The Cahaba Saxophone Quartet will form the core instrumentation. You may specify additional instruments, providing willingness to secure performers, arrange rehearsals, and supplement performer fees. ASO Assistant Conductor Kevin Fitzgerald is available as needed for, as example, works with spatial displacement or extra performers. Preferred are pieces with all four instruments (soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone sax), but subsets may be considered. Preference may also be given to works under 10 minutes.

How to Submit:  Proposal: By March 31, send a description of the landmark and how it will be the basis of the composition, instrumentation, and projected duration to  using “RR Park proposal” as the subject. 
 Materials: If the proposal is accepted, by August 15, send score, parts, title, duration, brief bio and program notes to  using “RR Park concert” as the subject.

Bent Frequency Duo

Call for Scores: Bent Frequency Duo 
Concert dates: January or February 2021, TBD 
Submission deadline: August 31, 2020 
Venue: TBD 
Instrumentation: See below

Acoustic duos are preferred. Solos may be considered, as may works with electronics if easily staged for repeat performances. 

  1. soprano saxophone and/or alto saxophone 
  2. vibraphone, 2 toms, 1 pair bongos, kick drum, suspended cymbal, perhaps other small items 

Duration: Preference may be given to works under 6 minutes 

How to Submit: Send a PDF of your score plus any parts to  using “Bent Frequency” as the subject. Recordings are welcome but not required.

Please include the following information with your submission. 

  • Composer 
  • Title 
  • Duration 
  • Brief biographical statement 
  • Brief program notes 
  • Date of composition 
  • Instrumentation 

For questions about this call, contact 

2020 Birmingham New Music Festival

Call for Scores: 2020 Birmingham New Music Festival 
Concert dates: Saturday, August 22, 2020 – others TBD 
Submission deadline: Extended to May 5, 2020 
Venues: Hoover Library, others TBD
Instrumentation: Variable 
Duration: No maximum limit, although preference may be given to proposals under 10 minutes 

This is the only call for the 2020 festival. Those submitting for Category A are encouraged to also submit a second choice for Category B in case A is not selected. Only one work per member is likely to be programmed. 

There is a possibility that some pieces could incorporate dance. Please indicate if interested in having your performance choreographed — in which case a recording is strongly recommended. 

Category A

Submit a work (first priority only) for one of the following categories:

  • Cello, with or without electronics – Craig Hultgren 
  • Clarinet/Eb Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Saxophone(s), solo with or without electronics — or in acoustic duo/trio/quartet with Soprano, Flute, and/or Piano – Lori Ardovino, LeBaron Trio, Vinna Trio (Note that a quartet may require supplementary funds from the composer.)
  • Piano, with or without electronics – Adam Bowles or Chris Steele 

Category B

Submit a work for any instrumentation, and be responsible for securing performers and organizing rehearsals. For this option, compensation from BAMA is limited to $220 (up to two performers) per composer. Submissions for larger ensembles will be accepted providing the submitter will compensate additional performers. 

How to Submit

Send the following info to  with the subject “BNMF2020” by May 1, 2020: 

  • Category A: Composer, title, duration, score/parts/other performance materials, requirements, and optional recording. 
  • Category B: Composer, title, duration, requirements, and optional recording. 

If not submitting your own composition, consider sponsoring an emerging or mid-career composer whose work you admire. Women and minority composers are particularly encouraged. The process is the same as submissions from performer members.