Homophonic! Pride Prize!
Commissioning an Australian QUILTBAG+ composer
3 Shades Black Artist Director, Miranda Hill with the support of philanthropist Andrew Boyle, are thrilled to launch the 3rd annual composition prize to promote and support Australian QUILTBAG+* composers.
*QUILTBAG+ = Queer Intersex Lesbian Trans Bisexual Asexual Gay +
The selected artist will be commissioned to compose a work for solo violin to be premiered by Kyla Matsuura-Miller at the 2022 Homophonic! as part of the Midsumma Festival. The competition is in memory of Annette Cawcut, an artist, and great lover of music.
Homophonic! is an annual celebration in concert form, featuring new classical music by queer composers performed at La Mama Theatre as part of the Midsumma Festival. 2022 will be the 11th year, with sold out houses, and the best new music specialists Melbourne has to offer.
“Homophonic! is a magically unique experience which creates nothing less than musical utopia”
stagewhispers.com.au
Photo by Cameron Jamieson.
“It is an honour and career highlight to receive the Homophonic Pride Prize for 2022 and to have the opportunity to add the canon of music written by queer composers (and written for queer performers!). This initiative speaks to the growing demand and understanding of the importance of amplifying marginalised voices in an industry that is crying out for a change. Here’s to more incisive, fearless and joy-filled collaborations. I am so excited!”
Kyla Matsuura-Miller, Violin
The prize: $1000 commission fee + 3 sessions with violinist Kyla Matsuura-Miller, performance at Homophonic! 2022, and professional live audio and video recording.
The work: 7-10 minutes, solo Violin work*
(*Acoustic Violin; open to suggestions for auxiliary foot operated instrumentation/percussion. )
Who can enter? Queer-identifying Australian composers of any age. We strongly encourage BIPOC, First nations and indigenous, Trans* and GNC folks, and female composers to apply.
What sort of music are you looking for? Homophonic! covers the gamut of contemporary music. We’ve had everything from Gamelan to Jazz and covers of Pop. Atonal, Serial, Melodic, Harmonic, 12 tone, graphic, experimental, difficult, gorgeous, and difficult and gorgeous. Whatever you’ve got to show us, we’re keen to hear!
How to enter: Submit a composition folio, CV, and a paragraph explaining your ideas for the work via this form.
Dates:
Applications open: 19th June 2021
Applications close: 11th July 2021
Notification: 21st July 2021
Work due: 1st November 2021
Workshopping period: Whatever works for you! We want to support your process.
The panel consists of:
Miranda Hill, Artistic Director, 3 Shades Black
Kyla Matsuura-Miller,
Andrew Boyle, International Development worker, co-founder of the composition prize
Lisa Cheney, Composer
Ben Opie, Artistic Director: Peninsula Festival, Inventi Ensemble, Oboist.
Inquiries: 3shadesblackmusic@gmail.com
3 Shades Black 
