Prix de Fugue
Insight Chamber Players is proud to announce its biannual competition in fugal composition, aimed at fostering the study, practice, and continued evolution of counterpoint.
Award:
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$1,500 Cash Prize
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Concert Premiere & Professional Recording
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Travel Stipend & Accommodations for the week preceding the concert, during which the winner will collaborate with the performers
Application Process & Timeline
Application Opens: January 6, 2025 ($25 application fee)
Deadline: August 1, 2025
Finalist Interviews: September 2025 (via Zoom)
Up to 10 finalists will be selected for an interview to discuss their compositional approach and understanding of counterpoint.
Winner Announcement: December 1, 2025
The winner will be chosen by an impartial adjudicator specializing in counterpoint. This year’s adjudicator is Dr. Peter Schubert, Professor of Music Theory at the McGill Schulich School of Music.
Eligibility & Guidelines
Open to applicants of any nationality, gender, and race. Applicants must be 18 years or older as of March 1, 2025 and must be a resident of the US or Canada.
Style
Baroque style (circa 1600–1750, e.g., Corelli, Bach, Handel)
Instrumentation
Four-part string quartet (Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello)
Content
Subject Provided by Insight Chamber Players below:
Alterations: Subject alterations/mutations should be minimal and only used where musically justified.
Length: No specific minimum or maximum, though the work should demonstrate substantial command of the style and technique.
Submissions will be evaluated based on:
• Mastery of baroque contrapuntal techniques.
• Originality within the constraints of the style.
• Artistic and technical coherence.
Prix de Fugue Application 2025
Fugue subject:
