Bent Frequency presents: Underscore–a call for scores
Co-Artistic Directors, Jan Berry Baker and Stuart Gerber
For our 2025/26 season Bent Frequency (BF) is excited to announce our fifth annual Underscore_a call for scores. We are looking for submissions of the most groundbreaking, compelling, and captivating chamber music celebrating a diversity of compositional voices. We will program music by up to three composers from this call AND commit to working towards a long-term collaboration with at least one of the winners.
BF is committed to knocking down long-established institutional and financial barriers often associated with calls for scores. BF seeks to amplify music by composers of diverse backgrounds, styles, and career stages. Underscore is FREE* and open to ANYONE.
*first submission is FREE, additional submissions are $20 USD per submission
Use this link to pay for additional scores (payment via paypal, venmo, apple pay, or credit card)
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All selected composers (up to three!) will receive:
· A high-quality audio and video recording of the live performance
· A stipend to assist with travel expenses to attend the performance in Atlanta
BF is dedicated to forging long-term collaborations with composers and commits to partnering with one of the selected composers to secure funding for a future commission.
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Submission details:
· NO application fee
· Open to composers of all ages, nationalities, career stages, and backgrounds
· Composers traditionally underrepresented in classical contemporary music are strongly encouraged to apply
· Composers can submit a single work FREE of charge, each additional piece will be $20 per submission
· Winning submissions will be performed on BF’s Underscore concert
· Submitted work may be of any length
· Pieces written in the last 15 years are preferred
· Published or unpublished works may be submitted
· Previously performed works are permitted
· Submitted work must be written for unspecified/open instrumentation
· Electroacoustic works, including pieces with video, are permitted
· Submitted work must be an original composition (no arrangements will be accepted)
· Co-created works may be submitted
· Previous applicants and winners of Underscore are welcome to submit applications
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Underscore instrumentation:
Bent Frequency invites composers and sound artists to submit works for open instrumentation ensembles. We are seeking scores that are open in terms of specific instrumentation and may include: graphic scores, text-based pieces, improvisation frameworks, and other experimental or hybrid notations that invite performer interpretation and foster creative collaboration. Submissions should be adaptable for flexible instrumentation (maximum of 8 players). We are especially interested in works that challenge traditional notation, expand the relationship between sound and gesture, and engage with Bent Frequency’s spirit of adventurous, boundary-pushing performance. Both new and previously unperformed works are welcome, and submissions from artists of all backgrounds, identities, and musical aesthetics are encouraged.
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Featured review panel:
Nomi Epstein–https://nomiepstein.com/
Tim Feeney–https://www.timfeeney.com/
Complete biographies of our distinguished review panel available at http://bentfrequency.com/review-panel
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Adjudication process:
· Round 1 – review panel will review all scores and excerpted (1-2 min.) recordings (if included) anonymously (All identification markings from the score and file names MUST be removed)
· Round 2 –the review panel will be provided full application information for all finalists and will review the complete recording (if included) and score
· Up to three winners will be chosen by the review panel in consultation with Bent Frequency
· Application deadline is December 20, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST
· Winning works will be announced by March 1, 2026
· Composers of the selected pieces will be invited to Atlanta to attend the dress rehearsal and concert in person in Atlanta on Sunday, May 3, 2026, 2:00pm EST