HUGH DAVIDSON COMPOSER READINGS 2026

Each season, the Victoria Symphony puts out a call for composers to submit new work to be read by the orchestra.

Dedicated to the late Hugh Davidson, a composer and champion of new music at the CBC and the Canada Council, this program provides the opportunity for composers writing music for orchestra to hear their piece rehearsed by the Victoria Symphony, and receive feedback in addition to an archival recording of their work.

Hugh Davidson has left an incredible legacy to the new music world, leaving a large bequest to the Victoria Foundation to establish the Hugh Davidson Fund, which supports the commission, performance and recording of new works for orchestra.

CMC BC plays a role in helping to administer the fund, which has supported new commissions by  composers Vivian Fung, Marcus Goddard, Samy Moussa, Jeffrey Ryan, Rita Ueda, Nicole Lizee, Linda Bouchard, Jocelyn Morlock, Stacey Brown, and Cassandra Miller, among others.

The Victoria Symphony’s annual readings expand on this extraordinary legacy.

The Details:

Score Submission Deadline: 11:59PM, Friday October 31, 2025

Score Readings: Saturday April 25, 2026, 10am – 12:30pm, 2pm – 4:30pm

Conducted by Associate Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia

Facilitated by Taylor Brook, Composer-Mentor in Residence

Venue: Wingate Studio, Baumann Centre, 925 Balmoral Rd, Victoria, V8T 1A7

ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES

Applicants must be a resident of British Columbia, Canada. Applicants who are from British Columbia but currently study outside of the province are eligible to apply. If such an applicant is successful, the cost of travel and accommodation is at their own expense. There are no age restrictions.

Each composer may submit only one composition for consideration. Works that have been professionally performed are not eligible. Works previously submitted to the VS for consideration may be resubmitted. Compositions must be less than fifteen minutes in length. A portion or movement from a longer work may also be considered.

Works must be scored for a maximum instrumentation of:

Woodwinds: 2 flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (2nd doubling English horn), 2 clarinets (2nd doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (no doubling)

Brass: 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones (2 tenor, 1 bass), 1 tuba

Percussion: Timpani (1 player) + 2 percussion players

Strings: violin I, violin II, viola, cello, double bass

String count: 6, 5, 4, 4, 2

Piano: one player (doubling celeste)

Additional players may be provided at the expense of the composer. Works with soloists will be considered. Soloist(s) will be provided by the composer without cost to the Victoria Symphony.

Indigenous composers are welcome to include vocal and instrumental soloists from their traditions.

Costs for Indigenous performing artists may be covered by the Victoria Symphony on a case-by-case basis.

Works employing electronics and digital technology will be considered. The orchestra, however, may not be amplified. Any and all electronics must be provided by the composer without cost to the Victoria Symphony.

All successful composers must be prepared to provide professional, legible orchestral parts and conductor score prepared according to the MOLA (Major Orchestra Librarians Association) guidelines. Parts and scores must be in booklet format at a size of either 9.5 x 12.5 or B4. Additional information can be provided for printing services. Please do not include bow markings in the score or parts except those already indicated as part of the composition.

A complete submission must include the following:

Cover letter with name, email and mailing addresses, work title, instrumentation and

duration. If the work has been performed previously, please list dates and presenters.

PDF of score, clearly labeled with the composer’s name, title of the work, instrumentation

(including percussion requirements), and duration.

Link to a midi or live recording.

A current curriculum vitae.

APPLICATION EVALUATION

The quality of the score submitted is the primary evaluation criteria. It is therefore in the applicant’s best interest that the score be clear, accurate, and the best representation of the composer’s work.

Incomplete, illegible, or late applications will not be considered.

Applications should be submitted by email no later than 11:59pm on Friday October 31,

2025: soile@victoriasymphony.ca

Successful applicants will be contacted by end of November.

PDFs of the final scores and string parts from successful applicants are due at 4:00pm, Monday December 15th 2026. Print copies of the scores and all orchestral parts are due at 4:00pm, Friday February 6th 2026.

Please note, all successful applicants are expected to attend the reading/recording session.

Contact Soile Stratkauskas, soile@victoriasymphony.ca with any questions.