Gilgamesh International Composition Competition

Theme

The Epic of Gilgamesh, from ancient Mesopotamia, begins with five Sumerian poems about Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, dating from the Third Dynasty of Ur (c. 2100 BC). The Epic is recorded on a set of twelve clay tablets dating to the seventh century BC, found in the Library of Ashurbanipal in the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. Gilgamesh became the hero par excellence of the ancient world—an adventurous, brave, but tragic figure symbolizing man's vain but endless drive for fame, glory, and immortality. We are looking for chamber music that is inspired by the story of Gilgamesh and Assyrian culture.

Guidelines

Eligibility: Composers of all ages, nationalities, and professional backgrounds can participate in the competition.
Work History: Submissions should not have been performed or awarded before.
Instrumentation: Scores can be written for harp, trombone, and live electronics or fixed media (2 channels), or electroacoustic pieces (fixed media) for 2 channels. Various combinations, including solo harp, solo trombone, and duets for harp and trombone, are accepted.
Style Diversity: Scores of different styles and aesthetic preferences are encouraged, and inquiries about instrumentation can be directed to the organizers.
Duration: Works should not exceed 5 minutes; multi-movement works and excerpts from larger pieces are NOT accepted.
Number of Submissions: Each composer is allowed to submit one piece.
Anonymous Submission: The composer's name and any identifying details must not be visible on the score or in any submitted materials.
Judges: Esteemed judges for this year include Panayiotis Kokoras (Greece/USA), Jennifer Jolley (USA), and Joachim Heintz (Germany). Judges from the previous competition were Oscar Bettison, Saad Haddad, and Nina Shekhar.
Entry Fee: No entry fee.


Important Dates

Competition Opens: August 2024
Scores Due: February 1, 2025
Announcement of Performance Winners: May 1,2025
Performance & Album Release: December 2025


Details are available at web pages:
https://gilgamesh.foundation/competition