The Lake George Music Festival is a strong supporter of contemporary classical music, and annually hosts an international Call for Scores to promote its continued development and dissemination. Our mission is to support and celebrate the next generation of leading composers and promote their work within our community. We will pair the most promising works with our roster of exceptional performers, fostering long-lasting relationships between artists of the highest caliber.
HOW TO APPLY
Call for Scores applications will be accepted from October 1st until December 1, 2025.
Fill out the following form during the submission period.
Composers may submit only one piece per application cycle.
Scores submitted should demonstrate legible, professional engraving standards and be accompanied by a recording of the work (live performances strongly encouraged, midi acceptable).
Please fill out all information carefully and make sure links to any recordings are publicly accessible. Password protected or broken links will not be reviewed and will disqualify your application. Application materials must be submitted electronically; no postal mail submissions will be accepted.
Please direct and questions about the application process to:
ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES
Composers of any age and nationality are eligible, including students currently enrolled in degree granting programs. Eligible pieces must strictly adhere to the following guidelines. Works that fall outside of the provided categories will not be considered.
Submission Requirements:
An original work of chamber music composed within the last 5 years
No longer than a maximum 25 minutes in duration
From the available instrumentation:
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flute, piccolo, oboe, english horn, Bb clarinet (no bass clarinet), bassoon, horn, trumpet, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, double bass.
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Any combination of the provided instruments will be acceptable, with a maximum of two of the same instrument (ex. 2 flutes, 2 oboes, piano four hands, etc.) Works requiring two pianos cannot be considered.
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Works should be acoustic, without amplification or electronics.
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Prepared piano may be permitted, but significant preparations which require lengthy setup time is not encouraged.
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Composer-performers are welcome! If you are also a performer and your instrument (or voice) is not included in this list, please indicate in your application that you will be participating with the ensemble to perform your own work. If selected, you must confirm your availability for the scheduled rehearsal period at the festival. There is no additional performance fee should you choose to perform in your own work.
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Composers will be required to provide a professionally engraved set of score and parts in pdf format to the festival if selected as a winning entry for concert programming.
For consideration, all requirements outlined above must be completed and submitted in their entirety by December 1st.
Submissions will not be accepted after the deadline, and we cannot guarantee that any technical issues, questions, or requests that may arise during late submissions will be resolved by the deadline. We are unable to make exceptions, so please enter your submission as early as possible
THE SELECTION PROCESS
Up to two compositions (announced by mid-March 2026) will be selected to receive a live performance at the Lake George Music Festival’s upcoming season.
The winning composers will also be invited to Lake George to work with the musicians performing their piece, and may be invited to share their work with the Composers Institute depending on scheduling and availability. A modest travel stipend of $250, lodging, and some meals will be provided to facilitate attendance at the festival.
Attendance at the festival is encouraged but not required.
Composers will be required to provide the score and parts in PDF format to the festival upon notification of selection.
FAQs
There is no application fee.
Yes! All applications are welcome regardless of age or student status.
All composers are eligible regardless of nationality or residency status. Please note that the festival is conducted in English, and all materials must be translated to English in order for entries to be reviewed. Additional travel funding or assistance for international applicants cannot be supported at this time, but if selected we still hope you’ll be able to join us at the festival.
Ideal submissions are new compositions that will complement our current season programming, connect with our audiences, and enrich our artistic community. The Lake George Music Festival values stylistically diverse programming and composers with a strong artistic voice. We choose not to focus on any one aesthetic or style in particular in order to expand the scope of our offerings and to welcome new members to our festival family.
Key considerations also include the feasibility and practicality of putting together a work within the short period of rehearsal time available during the festival, in addition to our evaluation of artistic merit.
No! Previously performed and/or recorded works are absolutely eligible.
Our Call for Scores is extremely competitive. Unfortunately, due to the large number of submissions, we are unable to provide specific feedback regarding individual submissions.
If you weren’t selected this year we encourage you to try again in future seasons!
REVOCABLE GIFTS
Completely flexible gifts you can change or revoke whenever or however you choose.
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Establish a gift in your will that reflects your most personal and important lifetime concerns. Bequests are among the most popular and widely used planned gifts because a bequest can be changed, costs you nothing as long as you live, and provides an estate tax deduction equal to the value of gifts to charity.
Create a trust that can be revoked or changed during your lifetime which directs the disposition of your assets including charitable gifts. A Revocable Living Trust can minimize the cost and delays associated with probate; facilitate asset transfer; provide privacy and, unlike a will, assure asset management continuity in the event of disability or death.
Add a charitable beneficiary designation to your IRA, 401(k), or other qualified retirement accounts. You can use a retirement plan to realize philanthropic goals and avoid income tax on plan assets.
OTHER GIFTS
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Make an irrevocable gift to a fund maintained by a charitable organization and enjoy an income tax charitable deduction for the full amount of the gift. As the name implies, the donor can advise the fund regarding distribution; however, donors may not place material restrictions on the fund.
Donate a home and retain the right to live in the property for the rest of your life. Enjoy a current income tax charitable deduction on the value of our remainder interest in the home.
Create a charitable lead trust that benefits us for a number of years, returns assets to your beneficiaries, and minimizes taxes.
Simply make us the beneficiary of a paid-up life insurance policy. Or, use life insurance to replace assets your heirs would have otherwise inherited in the absence of your charitable gift. With wealth replacement, you realize important philanthropic goals during your life and provide for your heirs at your death.