The New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra has organized the Robert Black Memorial Composition Competition in order to promote young talented composers.

The Jury will consist of NASO Principal Conductor Jonathan Schiffman and several esteemed composers in the New York City area.

Composers should submit one complete score or a significant excerpt (such as a complete movement) for either orchestra or chamber ensemble. Scores are expected to be legible, properly notated, and bound. Recordings will not be considered in the selection process (we prefer to focus exclusively on the quality of the written music).

Up to three composers will be selected to write overture-length works for large orchestra. Each work will be featured on one of NASO’s concerts during the 2005-2006 season. Exact length and scoring will depend partially on the other works being performed on the same concert. However, we anticipate works to be 5-10 minutes in duration with a minimum scoring availability of double winds, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion and strings.

Selected composers will be contacted by NASO in June 2005 to begin discussing concert dates, and various other logistics. Should scheduling conflicts arise, performance opportunities during NASO’s 2006-2007 season will be considered.

Composers will have the option of recording rehearsals and the concert performance at their own expense. NASO will help reimburse composers for printing/binding costs, the exact amount to be specified at a later date.

Information and Application (PDF: 15.06KB)

About Robert Black:

Robert Black was the Music Director of the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 1991, returning to conduct the orchestra from time to time until his death in 1993.

He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, beginning piano studies at age five and performing his first public recital at age thirteen. H e attended Oberlin Conservatory and pursued his graduate studies at The Juilliard School where he studied composition with Roger Sessions and David Diamond, and piano with Beveridge Webster. He received his M.M.A. and D.M.A. from Juilliard and was awarded the Edward Steuermann Prize for extraordinary distinction in piano performance.

Mr. Black founded the New York New Music Ensemble in 1975, became a member of Speculum Musicae in 1978 and was a founding member of the Chamber Players of the League of Composers-ISCM in 1983. In 1983, he also founded the PRISM Orchestra.

After incurring performance-related physical trauma, he turned to conducting. He was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Guest Conductor of the Kuopio Orchestra (Finland) and was also conductor of the orchestras at Stanford and Johns Hopkins Universities.   Mr. Black was frequently engaged as guest conductor for such ensembles as the American Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s “Green Umbrella” series and the San Francisco Chamber Symphony.

It was Mr. Black’s concentration on conducting that rekindled his early interest in composition and in the three busy years he had from 1990 until the end of his life, a good portion of his energy was devoted to composing music.

It is in Robert Black’s memory that the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra has created its composition competition.