Ensemble Contemporary α
Call for Compositions
Submission Guidelines
1. Eligibility
No restrictions on age or nationality.
2. Composition
・Submission condition: Work(s) must not have been previously premiered and must not have been published. However, works that premiered solely within educational institutions such as universities shall be treated as ‘unpublished’.
・Instrumentation: 3 to 10 players selected from: 1 flute (piccolo, alto flute), 1 oboe (English horn), 1 clarinet (bass clarinet), 1 bassoon, 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 piano (internal techniques and preparation are NOT permitted), 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 double bass. (Conductor is not included in the count. )
・ Performance time: Within 10 minutes
3. Submission
・Number of entries: Multiple works may be submitted. However, please use a separate submission form for each work.
・Only the title should be written on the score cover; do not include the composer's name. Please do not include any markings that could identify the composer.
・Application Fee: 5,000 Japanese Yen per work submitted.
・Payment method: PayPal. Send payment to: contemporary.alpha@gmail.com
Applicants are responsible for PayPal transfer fees.
・Please note that if payment cannot be confirmed after the application period, your submission will be cancelled.
・Application Period: Saturday 1st November 2025 to Sunday 30th November 2025, 23:59 (JST)
・Application Method: After logging into your Google Account, complete the required fields in the application form below, and upload the score file (in PDF format) and the programme note(Work description) file (in PDF format, approximately 300 words in Japanese or English) separately.
〔Application Form〕https://forms.gle/M7a651DjnNUQuTpU8
4. Selection Process
Selection Committee: Ensemble Contemporary α members
Announcement: The selected work (one piece) will be announced on our website by the end of December 2025.
Feedback: Written feedback from the selection committee will be provided to applicants who request it. Please indicate your preference on the application form.
5. Rehearsals and Performance
・We welcome composers to attend rehearsals, including online rehearsals, and the performance whenever and wherever possible. However, please note that travel and accommodation expenses are to be borne by the composer.
6. Other Matters
・For the selected work, the composer is requested to provide the parts for performance.
・Video recording of the premiere performance will be provided.
・Royalties for selected work will be paid to the copyright management organisation to which the composer belongs. Composers not affiliated with a management organisation will be paid an amount based on JASRAC standards.
7. Performance Overview
Date & Time: Monday, 23rd March 2026, 19:00
Venue: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Small Hall (Taito-ku, Tokyo) https://www.t-bunka.jp/en/
Programme:
・Selected works from the open call (world premiere)
・Fumio Tamura: Bypass Paris ISBN (2010), clarinet, piano
・Jummei Suzuki: Towards the Light (2012), flute (piccolo), clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano
・Hiroyuki Itoh: String Quartet No. 1 (2002), 2 violins, viola, cello
・Tetsuro Kubo: Procession of Shadows (2026 World premiere/Commissioned by Ensemble Contemporary α) ob, perc, pf, cb
・Jo Kondo: Hunisuccle for 14 instruments (1984) fl, ob, cl, bn, hn, tp, a-tb, b-tb, pf, 2vn, va, vc, cb
8. Contact Information
Ensemble Contemporary α Office: contemporary.alpha@gmail.com
Ensemble Contemporary α Website: https://www.contemporary-alpha.com
Ensemble Contemporary α YouTube: https://www.youtube.com @contemporary-alpha



