Supplemental Call for Compositions for Featured Ensembles & Performers

Submission Deadline: 11:59pm Mountain Time Friday, May 29, 2026

The College Music Society (CMS) is pleased to announce its 69th CMS National Conference in Grand Rapids, MI, from November 12–14, 2026, in conjunction with the Association for Technology in Music Instruction (ATMI), National Association for Collegiate Wind and Percussion Instructors (NACWPI), and Pi Kappa Lambda (PKL).

CMS’s 2026 Conference Theme is “Adaptive Advocacy: Collegiate Music Training at a Crossroads.” This conference aims to explore what the future of music education, creation, performance, and scholarship might look like in conversation with community-based action, coalition-building, advocacy, and innovative practice across all those realms.

The 2026 Program Committee invites submissions from across the full spectrum of our profession, including (a) those in academia (full-time and adjunct faculty, students, and retired faculty), (b) independent musicians and scholars, and (c) professionals in the music industry, business, and entrepreneurship.

In the spirit of the 2026 conference theme, as well as the 2026-2027 Common Topic—Collaborate!—we invite submissions that highlight current practices, innovations, and contributions in the following key areas: In line with the 2026-2027 Common Topic—Collaborate!— we welcome proposals for original compositions for previously selected featured performers and ensembles by CMS composers, 10 minutes or less in duration, scored for the provided soloists and ensembles outlined below: 

• Soprano
• Flute 
• Alto Saxophone
• Soprano Saxophone
• Clarinet (Bb or A)
• Trombone Octet (6 tenor trombones, 2 bass trombones)
• Classical Guitar
• Solo Piano
• Piano Duo

Collaborative Works Encouraged

In addition to solo repertoire, the Program Committee welcomes submissions that explore collaborative compositions featuring combinations of the 2026 Featured Performers. Composers are encouraged to consider writing for small ensembles made up of two or more of the featured artists listed in this call. These works should still adhere to the 10-minute time limit.

If the work is accepted, scores and parts will be due Friday, August 14, 2026. All accepted composers should plan to attend the 2026 CMS National Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are encouraged to be available for the dress rehearsal with the ensemble prior to the performance. 

The Committee solicits the broadest representation of our profession and its interests and welcomes submissions from all, including those (a) in academia (full-time and adjunct faculty, students, and retired faculty), (b) in the music industry, and (c) active as independent musicians and scholars. We welcome contributions embodying a wide variety of perspectives from persons and teams of diverse backgrounds. 

CMS would like to thank the selected Featured Performers for the 2026 National Conference:

• Logan Banister, Alto Saxophone
• Central Michigan University Trombone Octet (Dr. Cole Bartels, director) 
• Nathan Cheung, Piano
• Liudmila Georgievskaya, Piano
• Lily Guerrero, Soprano
• Paige Jackson, flute
• Suyeon Ko, Flute 
• Er-Hsuan Li, Piano
• Stephen Mattingly, Classical Guitar
• Aileen Razey, Clarinet (Bb or A)
• Claire Salli , Alto or Soprano Saxophone
• Dongwon Shin, Solo Piano
• Christine Teng, Collaborative Piano 
• HaEun Yang, Dongwon Shin, Piano Duo
• HaEun Yang, Piano

CONSIDERATIONS  

• Proposed works should be 10 minutes or less in duration.
• Compositions performed at previous CMS National Conferences will not be considered for acceptance. 
• All composers whose work is selected for inclusion on the program will need to register for, and attend, the entire conference. Registration should be completed by early summer 2026.
• Due to the complexity of the conference schedule, composers should expect to have their works performed on any day of the conference should their proposals be accepted.
• CMS does not fund travel expenses for accepted presenters. 
• Proposers must submit their own work and may not submit proposals on behalf of their students or others. 
• Proposals of a commercial nature that promote products and services will not be considered.

ELIGIBILITY

• Composers must hold active membership with CMS. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please check your membership status well in advance of the submission deadline. Please note the processing time for membership applications and/or renewals is 1–2 business days.
• Not a CMS Member yet? You can register for a CMS Trial Membership for just $20.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & PARTICIPATION POLICY

• The CMS Program Committee has issued nine Supplemental Calls for inclusion in the 2026 National Conference. Members are permitted to submit one response per call (for example, one proposal for Film/Visual Media scores, one proposal for Jazz & Improvisatory Performances participation, and one proposal for Table Talks). 
• If a member submits more than one proposal to the conference, each submission should be unique and content may not be duplicated, either in response to this Call or any other Calls for this conference, including proposals submitted to ATMI.
• Members may give a maximum number of two presentations, in total, at the 2026 National Conference, regardless of the organization on behalf of which they are presenting (for example, two presentations associated with CMS, or one presentation on behalf of CMS and one presentation on behalf of ATMI, or two presentations on behalf of ATMI, etc.). Questions surrounding this policy should be directed to CMS Director of Operations.
• Submitters may not send the same or very similar proposals to both CMS and ATMI.

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS

• The CMS conference submission process is powered by Submittable. To submit a proposal, please (1) log in to the CMS members-only website using your username and password and then (2) click the “Submit” button at the bottom of this call. You will be directed to Submittable to complete your proposal. If you don’t already have a Submittable account, you will be prompted to create one (click here for help using Submittable and to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions).

A complete proposal includes:

1. The score’s title, instrumentation, and duration, rounded up to the nearest half minute.
2. A PDF copy of the full score and individual parts (anonymous; dedications and/or commissions should be redacted on the score for blind peer review). The score may be notated at concert pitch or transposed, but the composer is asked to make this clear in the score. Multi-movement scores should be merged into a single PDF file, as should all parts.  
3. An anonymous digital recording of the work. MIDI file/software-synthesis realizations are acceptable. Most audio file formats are supported within Submittable.
4. Program notes (250 words or less).
5. A list of required equipment.
6. A brief biography of the composer (250 words or less).

Please note: 

• The name(s) or affiliations(s) of anyone involved in the presentation should not appear on the score or parts, including the ensemble, performers, dedications, or commissioners (if applicable), in program notes, or in the file names of submitted audio samples, as submissions are evaluated anonymously. Proposals identifying the composers will be disqualified. Names and affiliations may, however, appear in submitted biographies, as the review committee will not have access to this part of the application. 

Submissions that do not conform to the above guidelines will not be considered.

TIMELINE

Proposals must be submitted by 11:59pm Mountain Time Friday, May 29, 2026

Proposers will be notified of their status by Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

QUESTIONS?

Questions regarding this Call should be directed to: 
[email protected], 2026 National Conference Program Chair

Questions concerning conference operations should be directed to:
[email protected], CMS Conference Planner