2026 Northeast Chapter Conference

Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM ET on October 17, 2025

The Northeast Chapter of the College Music Society is pleased to announce its Call for Scores for its 47th Conference on March 21-22, 2026, hosted by Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. The Composition Committee welcomes submissions of original works to be performed during one or more special concerts during the conference. Composers may either perform their own works, provide their own performer(s), or submit pieces for the following ensembles:

• Chatham University Choir (about 34 singers) or Chatham Chamber Choir (12 singers):
  • SAB
  • SATB
  • SSAAB
  • with piano accompaniment or a cappella
• Jazz combo
• Clarinet quartet
• Chamber groups of 1-5 performers drawn from the following list: 
  • Soprano voice
  • Clarinet (A, B-flat, or bass)
  • Saxophone (any)
  • Trombone
  • Cello
  • Piano
  • Classical guitar

Submissions with electronics are also welcome, but composers must contact the Composition Committee Chair before submission regarding needed equipment to confirm whether the concert venue can accommodate specific needs for electronic playback or processing.

The Committee solicits the broadest representation of our profession and its interests and welcomes submissions from all, including those in academia (full-time and adjunct faculty, community college faculty, students, and retired faculty), in the music industry, and active as independent musicians and scholars.

ELIGIBILITY

• Composers must be current members of the College Music Society at the time of submission. Persons interested in submitting a proposal should check their 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.

CONSIDERATIONS

• All scores must be anonymous.
• All scores must be 10 minutes or less in duration.
• Composers who will provide their own performers must communicate with their performers prior to submission regarding their interest and availability. Submissions that do not list all performers will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered.
• Composers may wish to refer to the online CMS Players Roster to locate performers who have volunteered their services for this conference.
• All composers whose work is selected for inclusion on the program are expected to register for, and attend, the entire conference. Performers are not required to be members of CMS or to register for the conference in order to perform on this program, but they must register if they wish to attend the rest of the conference.
• Composers must be willing to have their works performed on any day of the conference should their proposal be accepted.
• The College Music Society does not fund travel expenses of accepted presenters.
• Proposers must submit their own work and may not submit proposals on behalf of their students or others.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & PARTICIPATION POLICY

• Each member may submit a maximum of two score(s) to this conference.
• Each member may submit a maximum of three proposal(s) to all calls for this conference.
• Each member may be added by others as a co-presenter (e.g., panelist or collaborative musician) to a maximum of two proposals.
• The maximum number of presentations in which a member may be involved on the conference program is two. If more than two proposals involving the same member are accepted – regardless of whether the member submitted the proposal or was added another member’s proposal – the individual in question must choose in which two presentations s/he will participate.

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS

• Electronic submissions are required. Proposals sent by mail will not be considered.
• The College Music Society's conference submission process is powered by Submittable. To submit a proposal, please log in to the CMS members-only website using your username and password and then 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 establish 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, rounding up to the nearest half minute.
  2. A PDF copy of the full score and of individual parts (anonymous). The score may be notated at concert pitch or transposed, but the composer should make this clear in the score. Multi-movement scores should be merged into a single PDF file, as should all parts.
  3. A digital recording of the work. MIDI file/software-synthesis realizations are acceptable. Most audio file formats are supported within Submittable.
  4. Program notes (not to exceed 250 words).
  5. A list of required equipment.
  6. A brief biography of the composer (not to exceed 250 words).
  7. Name of performing ensemble, if applicable.
  8. Biography of ensemble or performer(s) (maximum total text of 250 words).
  9. Contact details regarding all personnel involved in the presentation (email address, mailing address, and phone). If your performance includes 3 or more performers, download this spreadsheet, save the file using your name as the file name (e.g., smith_john.xlsx), and complete the requested information for each involved person. You will be required to upload this completed file with your proposal.
     
     Please note:
     • The name(s) or affiliation(s) of anyone involved in the presentation should not appear on the score or parts, in program notes, or in the file names of submitted audio samples, as submissions are evaluated anonymously. Proposals identifying the composer or collaborators will be disqualified. Names and affiliations may appear in submitted biographies and in the “Performers” section of the proposal, however, 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 11:59 PM EST on October 17, 2025.
• Every effort will be made to notify proposers of the status of their submission by late November.

NORTHEAST CHAPTER STUDENT COMPOSITION COMPETITION

The Elliott S. Schwartz Student Composition Award is open to any student who presents an original composition on the program of the Northeast Regional Conference. Students must be enrolled in a college or university within the Northeast Chapter in order to be eligible. An adjudication committee will decide the award winner based on the public performance at the Chapter Conference. The adjudication committee for this award will consist of faculty or professional composers whose music is also being presented at that concert. Faculty from the schools of students who are submitting pieces will not serve on the adjudication committee. 

Student members of the College Music Society are invited to submit original scores. They should follow the procedures in the Call for Scores. Student members of the College Music Society who are selected to present their composition at the conference are automatically considered for the Elliott S. Schwartz Prize for Student Composition. The following guidelines apply to the competition:

1. Entrants to the competition must be (as of March 2026) enrolled in classes at their institution. Bachelor’s, master’s, and pre-ABD doctoral students are eligible. Both full and part-time students are eligible. Students who already hold the degree of Ph.D., D.M.A., D.M., Ed.D. or other terminal degree (excluding M.F.A.) are not eligible.
2. Student submissions will be evaluated as part of the entire pool of submissions for programming at the conference.
3. Students who will provide their own performers must communicate with their performers prior to submission regarding their interest and availability.
4. A cash award of $250 will be given to the winner.
5. The judges reserve the right not to select a winner.
6. The previous year’s winner of the prize is ineligible to be considered for the prize this year but is invited to submit to the regular call for scores.

The winner of this award will also be considered in receiving an automatic invitation to present the same proposal at the subsequent CMS National Conference, subject to the approval of the CMS National Conference Program Committee each year, and at the discretion of the evaluating committee at the chapter conference. 

In the case of collaborative proposals, personnel substitutes are allowed as needed, provided that the primary student proposer is still included.

For original composition proposals, all efforts will be made to secure suitable performer(s) at the CMS National Conference, but availability cannot be guaranteed.

If for any reason the awardee is unable to present at the subsequent CMS National Conference, the CMS Northeast Board may, at its discretion, extend this invitation to other awardees in turn.

Student travel support is often available through the CMS Executive Office.

QUESTIONS?

Questions regarding this call should be directed to:

Dr. Nathan Cornelius
[email protected]Composition Committee Chair, 2026 College Music Society Northeast Regional Conference

Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM EST on October 17, 2025

The Northeast chapter of The College Music Society (CMS) will hold its 47th Conference March 21-22, 2026, hosted by Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Performance Committee welcomes the submission of proposals for lecture-recitals, performances, or installations with an electroacoustic element (fixed or live media). Proposers should contact the Performance Chair to confirm specifics of the electronics or amplification needed to present their work. The Committee invites the broadest representation of our profession and its interests, and welcomes proposals from students, faculty, retirees, and independent musicians from all educational and professional settings. 

This call is for performance and lecture-recital proposals. Students may submit to this call. Please see separate calls for program proposals (demonstrations, discussion forums, panels, scholarly research papers, posters, and workshops) and composition proposals.

CONSIDERATIONS 

• Performances are intended to present live music and speaking is limited to brief introductory comments. Two types of performances are possible:
  1. Stand-alone Performance: A 25-minute program from a single performer or ensemble that features music by one or more composers. The time limit is inclusive of set-up and tear-down.
  2. Showcase Performance: Brief performance of 10 minutes or less which will be included on a larger concert organized by the Program Committee. The time limit is inclusive of set-up and tear-down.
• Lecture-recitals provide opportunities for a performance combined with a significant amount of speaking. They are limited to 25 minutes each inclusive of delivery, discussion, and/or questions. 

ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES

• All CMS members are invited to submit proposals. 
• Student members may submit performance and lecture-recital proposals through this call. If invited to present a lecture-recital, a student will be considered for the Diane W. Follet Outstanding Student Scholarship Award (details below).
• All primary proposers must be a current member of CMS. Please note the processing time for membership applications and/or renewals is 1–2 business days.
• It is not necessary for collaborators to be current members at the time of submission; however, if invited, all persons involved in the presentation/performance must become CMS members.
• Proposers may not submit proposals on behalf of students or others. Faculty are encouraged to share calls with their students and have them apply directly. Discounted student membership rates are available. 
• Presentations requiring two pianos will be considered. Pianos may be prepared or altered. However, any alterations need to be clearly stated in the proposal and require approval. 

PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS & PARTICIPATION POLICY

• Each member may submit a maximum of TWO proposals to this call and a maximum of THREE proposals to all calls.
• Each member may submit only ONE proposal of each format type (e.g., ONE lecture-recital, ONE performance, ONE paper). The same topic may not be submitted as both a lecture-recital and performance. 
• In addition to the TWO proposals, each CMS member may be added to ONE other proposal by another person as a co-presenter, a panelist or a collaborating musician.
• Each submission must be unique and should not duplicate the subject matter of other work submitted by the proposer in response to any other calls for this conference.
• The maximum number of presentations in which a member may be involved on the conference program is TWO. If more than two proposals involving the same member are accepted – regardless of whether the member submitted the proposal or was added to another member’s proposal – the individual in question must choose in which two presentations to participate. 
• All selected performers/presenters, including current CMS board members, must register for the conference and be prepared to present/perform on either day of the conference. CMS does not fund performers’ travel expenses. 

DIANE W. FOLLET OUTSTANDING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

• Student members of CMS who are selected to present a lecture-recital at the conference are automatically considered for the Diane W. Follet Outstanding Student Scholarship Award. The following guidelines apply to the competition: 
  • Entrants to the competition must be enrolled in classes at the undergraduate or graduate level, full- or part-time, as of March, 2026. Students who already hold a terminal degree (excluding MFA) are not eligible to compete.
  • Students must be enrolled at a Northeast institution to qualify.
  • Papers must be read at the conference. Audio and/or visual aids may be used.
  • A cash award of $250 will be given to the winner.
  • The judges reserve the right not to select a winner.
  • The winner of the 2025 Student Paper Competition and Lecture Recital is ineligible to compete in 2026. The 2025 winner is invited to submit a proposal under the regular call for proposals.
• The winner of this award will also be considered in receiving an automatic invitation to present the same proposal at the subsequent CMS National Conference, subject to the approval of the CMS National Conference Program Committee each year, and at the discretion of the evaluating committee at the chapter conference. 
  • In the case of collaborative proposals, personnel substitutes are allowed as needed, provided that the primary student proposer is still included.
  • If for any reason the awardee is unable to present at the subsequent CMS National Conference, the CMS Northeast Board may, at its discretion, extend this invitation to other awardees in turn. 
  • Student travel support is often available through the CMS Executive Office. 

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS

• Electronic submissions are required. Proposals sent by mail and email will not be considered. 
• The CMS’s conference submission process is powered by Submittable. To submit a proposal:
  1. log in to the CMS members-only website using your username and password.
  2. click the ‘Submit’ button at the bottom of this call.
     1. You will be directed to Submittable to complete your proposal. If you don't already have a Submittable account, you will be prompted to establish one.
     2. Visit this page for help using Submittable

• A complete proposal includes:
  • A proposal title and format.
  • Lecture-recital proposals require an abstract of up to 250 words. 
  • Performance proposals require program notes of up to 250 words as well as a list of all titles, movements, and composers being proposed, and indications of the instrumentation and duration of each work. If a proposal includes lengthy pieces which will not be played in their entirety, please, clarify which sections will be performed in the program notes. 
  • Required equipment and internet needs. An internet connection is not guaranteed.
  • A digital recording of the performer(s) to demonstrate proficiency. A performance of the actual work being proposed is encouraged but not required. As an alternative, the submitted example should be of a comparable style. Up to 3 supporting materials can be added to your proposal, i.e. printed music examples, photos, statistics, or other relevant data. Do not include lengthy documents, dissertations, CVs, resumes, or PowerPoint presentations.
  • A brief biography of the proposer not to exceed 250 words.
  • Name of the performing ensemble, if applicable. 
  • Brief biographies of the presenters/performers or ensemble not to exceed 250 words. Ensemble biographies may briefly address the achievements of each ensemble member; separate biographies of individual performers are not required.  
  • Contact details for all collaborating musicians:
    • email address
    • mailing address
    • phone number 
    • headshot photo (JPG or PNG format, sized at 400x400 pixels)
    • If your presentation includes 3 or more persons, download this spreadsheet, save the file using your name as the file name (e.g., smith_john.xlsx), and complete the requested information for each involved person. You will be required to upload this completed file with your proposal. 

Please note: To support the blind review process, the name and affiliation of anyone involved in the presentation/performance, including the ensemble, performers, or commissioner should not appear in the title, abstract or program notes nor in the file names or body of submitted supplementary materials. Submissions are evaluated anonymously and proposals identifying the proposer will be disqualified. Names and affiliations may appear in the “Collaborators” section of the proposal and in submitted biographies, as the review committee will not have access to this information.

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

TIMELINE

• Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on October 17, 2025. 
• Every effort will be made to notify performers/proposers by late November 2025.

QUESTIONS?

Questions regarding this call should be directed to:

Linda Boianova
[email protected]Performance Chair, 2026 CMS-Northeast Conference

Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM EST on October 17, 2025

The Northeast Chapter of the College Music Society is pleased to announce its Call for Program Participation for its 47th Conference on March 21-22, 2026, hosted by Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. 

The Program Committee welcomes proposals for demonstrations, discussion forums, panels, scholarly research papers, posters, and workshops relating to all aspects of music creation, performance, scholarship, teaching, learning, career considerations, and other areas of interest to the music professional. The Committee invites the broadest representation from the music profession and its interests, and welcomes proposals from students, faculty, retirees, and independent musicians from all educational and professional settings.

Chatham University houses a music technology lab that is available for hands-on presentations, and provides access to Finale, Ableton Live, Reaper, Dorico, and some iZtope software.

CONSIDERATIONS

• Demonstrations enable conference attendees to learn about methods, resources, or tools, and differ from workshops in that they are not interactive. Demonstrations are limited to 25 minutes.
• Discussion Forums create a venue for attendees to interact and discuss specific topics related to the profession. While moderated, most of the information and knowledge sharing is generated by the audience rather than the presenter. Forums are less formal than speaker-led presentations. Forums are typically 55 minutes. 
• Panels provide an opportunity to examine a topic in depth. A panel comprises at least two panelists and is facilitated by a moderator. The moderator may either engage panelists with curated questions or may provide initial remarks before inviting each panelist to share their perspective within a pre-established time frame. Panels might conclude with an audience Q&A session, a summation of key points, and acknowledgements. Panels are typically 55 minutes. 
• Papers are 25-minute presentations of research or a significant discovery. These are spoken presentations but may include audiovisual elements and/or time for Q&A.
• Posters present an idea or project via a compelling visual display. Time will be scheduled during the conference for poster presenters to interact with attendees regarding their research. 
• Workshops enable conference attendees to learn about specific methods, tools, resources, or projects through hands-on interaction, and are generally designed to teach something or develop a specific skill, or set of skills, rather than present original research.
• Prior to submission, proposers must communicate with all co-presenters regarding their interest and availability. Proposals not listing all participants will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered.
• All persons whose work is selected for inclusion on the program are expected to register for and attend the full conference. If the proposal is accepted, proposers will be asked to communicate with all participants in the presentation to ensure their registration by the end of the calendar year. At its discretion, the Program Committee may exempt from the membership and registration fee requirements specific individuals, such as invited speakers or guest panelists who are non-music professionals. It is the responsibility of the individual who submits the proposal to, upon acceptance, make conference planners aware of all non-music professionals involved in their presentation and to request such an exemption.
• Proposers agree to present on any day of the conference should their proposal be accepted.
• The College Music Society does not fund travel expenses of 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 or services will not be considered.

ELIGIBILITY

• The Primary proposer must be a current member of The College Music Society. Persons interested in submitting a proposal should check their 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.
• It is not necessary for co-presenters to be current members at the time of submission; however, if invited to the program, every person involved in the presentation must join CMS.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & PARTICIPATION POLICY

• Each member may submit a maximum of two proposal(s) in response to this Call. 
• Each member may submit a maximum of three proposal(s) to all calls for this conference.
• Each member may be added by others as a co-presenter (e.g., panelist or collaborative musician) to a maximum of two proposals. 
• The maximum number of presentations in which a member may be involved on the conference program is two. If more than two proposals involving the same member are accepted – regardless of whether the member submitted the proposal or was added another member’s proposal – the individual in question must choose in which two presentations they will participate. 

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS

• Electronic submissions are required. Proposals sent by mail will not be considered. 
• To support the blind review process, the name(s) or affiliation(s) of anyone involved in the presentation should not appear in the title or abstract, nor in the file names or body of submitted supplementary materials, as submissions are evaluated anonymously. Proposals identifying the proposer or co-presenters will be disqualified. Names and affiliations may, however, appear in the “Personnel” section of the proposal and in submitted biographies, as the review committee will not have access to this part of the application.
• The College Music Society's 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 establish one. (Visit this page for help using Submittable and to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions.)
• A complete proposal includes:
  1. The proposal’s title.
  2. An abstract of 250 words or less.
     • Preparing an Abstract - The Program Committee chooses presentations based primarily on the abstract as submitted, so it is important to write an abstract that the Committee will understand and can evaluate fairly. The purpose of the abstract is to convey to the reader what will be said in the presentation. Do not merely describe the subject or list the topics to be covered. Rather, state the main point of the presentation, outline the subsidiary points, and summarize the evidence offered, so that a reader who has not heard the presentation will know in brief what will be discussed and can evaluate its contribution to our knowledge and understanding of music. The abstract, like the presentation itself, should be clear to an audience of musicians and music educators of all kinds, not just to those with a narrow specialty. While it may be necessary to set the context or lay out the problem addressed, this should be kept to a minimum.
  3. You may add up to 3 supporting materials to your proposal (optional). These might include printed music examples, photos, statistics, or relevant data. Do not include lengthy documents, dissertations, CVs, resumes, or PowerPoint presentations. Neither file names nor uploaded materials should identify the proposer or any collaborators.
  4. A list of required equipment and audio-visual needs.
  5. A biography of the proposer and each co-presenter, if applicable (250-word maximum per person).
  6. Contact details for all personnel involved in the presentation, including an email address, mailing address, and phone number for each person, as well as an institutional affiliation, if applicable.
• When referencing one’s own previously published research, the proposer should refer to such research in the third person to avoid identifying themselves. For example, hypothetical proposal submitter D. Graham should write, “D. Graham’s article, ‘XYZ,’ summarizes pertinent issues,” instead of writing, “My article, ‘XYZ,’ summarizes pertinent issues.” The wording in the first example protects the anonymity of the author, while the second compromises the author’s anonymity by linking the author of the proposal to previously published work by a named author.
• Submissions that do not conform to the above guidelines will not be considered.

NORTHEAST CHAPTER STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION

• Student members of the College Music Society who are selected to present a paper at the conference are automatically considered for the Diane W. Follet Outstanding Student Scholarship Award. The following guidelines apply to the competition:
  1. Entrants to the competition must be (as of March 2025) enrolled in classes (full or part-time) at the undergraduate or graduate level. Students who already hold a Ph.D., D.M.A., D.M., Ed.D., or other terminal degree (excluding M.F.A.) are not eligible to compete.
  2. Students must be enrolled in the College Music Society Northeast Chapter to qualify.
  3. Papers must be read at the conference. Audio and/or visual aids may be used.
  4. A cash award of $250 will be given to the winner.
  5. The judges reserve the right to not select a winner.
  6. The winner of the 2024 Student Paper Competition/Lecture Recital is ineligible to compete in 2025. The winner is invited to submit a proposal under the regular call for proposals.

The winner of this award will also be considered in receiving an automatic invitation to present the same proposal at the subsequent CMS National Conference, subject to the approval of the CMS National Conference Program Committee each year, and at the discretion of the evaluating committee at the chapter conference. 

In the case of collaborative proposals, personnel substitutes are allowed as needed, provided that the primary student proposer is still included.

If for any reason the awardee is unable to present at the subsequent CMS National Conference, the CMS Northeast Board may, at its discretion, extend this invitation to other awardees in turn.

Student travel support is often available through the CMS Executive Office.

TIMELINE

• Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on Friday October 17, 2025.
• Every effort will be made to notify proposers of the status of their submission by late November, 2025.

QUESTIONS?

Questions regarding this call should be directed to:

Dr. James Harrington
[email protected]Program Committee Chair, 2026 College Music Society Northeast Conference

The Northeast Chapter of the College Music Society is pleased to announce its Supplemental Call for Student Proposals for its 47th Conference on March 21-22, 2026, hosted by Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. Proposals will be accepted for Call for Scores, Call for Program Participation, and Call for Performance. Please see requirements for each category below general guidelines. Submissions will be evaluated by both faculty and students. 

Student works (compositions, papers/presentations, and lecture-recitals) selected through this Supplemental Call will be considered for the Elliott S. Schwartz or Diane W. Follett awards if eligible (see details below).

ELIGIBILITY:

• All primary proposers must be a current member of the College Music Society at the time of submission Please note the processing time for membership applications and/or renewals is 1–2 business days. Discounted student membership rates are available. 
• Proposers must communicate with all co-presenters regarding their interest and availability. Proposals not listing all participants will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered.
• It is not necessary for collaborators to be current members at the time of submission; however, if invited, all persons involved in the presentation/performance must become CMS members.
• Proposers may not submit proposals on behalf of students or others. Faculty are encouraged to share calls with their students and have them apply directly.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & PARTICIPATION POLICY

• Each member may submit a maximum of two score(s) to this conference.
• Each member may submit a maximum of three proposal(s) to all calls for this conference.
• Each member may be added by others as a co-presenter (e.g., panelist or collaborative musician) to a maximum of two proposals.
• Each submission must be unique and should not duplicate the subject matter of other work submitted by the proposer in response to any other calls for this conference.
• The maximum number of presentations in which a member may be involved on the conference program is two. If more than two proposals involving the same member are accepted – regardless of whether the member submitted the proposal or was added another member’s proposal – the individual in question must choose in which two presentations s/he will participate.
• All selected performers/presenters must register for the conference and be prepared to present/perform on either day of the conference. CMS does not fund performers’ travel expenses. 
• The name(s) or affiliation(s) of anyone involved in the presentations, performances, or compositions should not appear on the score or parts, in program notes, titles, or in the file names of submitted samples, as submissions are evaluated anonymously. Proposals identifying the composer or collaborators will be disqualified. Names and affiliations may appear in submitted biographies and in the “Performers” section of the proposal, however, 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.

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS

• Electronic submissions are required. Proposals sent by mail will not be considered.
• The College Music Society's 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 establish one. (Click here for help using Submittable and to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions.)

Call for Scores

The committee welcomes submissions by students of original works to be performed during one or more special concerts during the conference. Composers may either perform their own works, provide their own performer(s), or submit pieces for the following ensembles:

• Chamber groups of 1-5 performers drawn from the following list: 
  • Soprano voice
  • Clarinet (A, B-flat, or bass)
  • Saxophone (any)
  • Trombone
  • Cello
  • Piano
  • Classical guitar

Submissions with electronics are also welcome, but composers must contact Aileen Razey before submission regarding needed equipment to confirm whether the concert venue can accommodate specific needs for electronic playback or processing.

If invited to present a composition, students will be considered for the Elliott S. Schwarz Student Composition Award (see below).

Considerations:

• All scores must be anonymous.
• All scores must be 10 minutes or less in duration.
• Composers who will provide their own performers must communicate with their performers prior to submission regarding their interest and availability. Submissions that do not list all performers will be deemed incomplete and will not be considered.
• Composers may wish to refer to the online CMS Players Roster to locate performers who have volunteered their services for this conference.
• All composers whose work is selected for inclusion on the program are expected to register for, and attend, the entire conference. Performers are not required to be members of CMS or to register for the conference in order to perform on this program, but they must register if they wish to attend the rest of the conference.
• Composers must be willing to have their works performed on any day of the conference should their proposal be accepted.
• A complete proposal includes:
  1. The score’s title, instrumentation, and duration, rounding up to the nearest half minute.
  2. A PDF copy of the full score and of individual parts (anonymous). The score may be notated at concert pitch or transposed, but the composer should make this clear in the score. Multi-movement scores should be merged into a single PDF file, as should all parts.
  3. A digital recording of the work. MIDI file/software-synthesis realizations are acceptable. Most audio file formats are supported within Submittable.
  4. Program notes (not to exceed 250 words).
  5. A list of required equipment.
  6. A brief biography of the composer (not to exceed 250 words).
  7. Name of performing ensemble, if applicable.
  8. Biography of ensemble or performer(s) (maximum total text of 250 words).
  9. Contact details regarding all personnel involved in the presentation (email address, mailing address, and phone). If your performance includes 3 or more performers, download this spreadsheet, save the file using your name as the file name (e.g., smith_john.xlsx), and complete the requested information for each involved person. You will be required to upload this completed file with your proposal. 

Submit Proposals

Call for Program

The committee welcomes proposals for demonstrations, discussion forums, panels, scholarly research papers, posters, and workshops relating to all aspects of music creation, performance, scholarship, teaching, learning, career considerations, and other areas of interest to the music professional. 

If invited to present a paper, a student will be considered for the Diane W. Follet Outstanding Student Scholarship Award (details below).

Considerations:

• Demonstrations enable conference attendees to learn about methods, resources, or tools, and differ from workshops in that they are not interactive. Demonstrations are limited to 25 minutes.
• Discussion Forums create a venue for attendees to interact and discuss specific topics related to the profession. While moderated, most of the information and knowledge sharing is generated by the audience rather than the presenter. Forums are less formal than speaker-led presentations. Forums are typically 55 minutes. 
• Panels provide an opportunity to examine a topic in depth. A panel comprises at least two panelists and is facilitated by a moderator. The moderator may either engage panelists with curated questions or may provide initial remarks before inviting each panelist to share their perspective within a pre-established time frame. Panels might conclude with an audience Q&A session, a summation of key points, and acknowledgements. Panels are typically 55 minutes. 
• Papers are 25-minute presentations of research or a significant discovery. These are spoken presentations but may include audiovisual elements and/or time for Q&A.
• Posters present an idea or project via a compelling visual display. Time will be scheduled during the conference for poster presenters to interact with attendees regarding their research. 
• Workshops enable conference attendees to learn about specific methods, tools, resources, or projects through hands-on interaction, and are generally designed to teach something or develop a specific skill, or set of skills, rather than present original research.
• A complete proposal includes:
  1. The proposal’s title.
  2. An abstract of 250 words or less.
     • Preparing an Abstract - The Program Committee chooses presentations based primarily on the abstract as submitted, so it is important to write an abstract that the Committee will understand and can evaluate fairly. The purpose of the abstract is to convey to the reader what will be said in the presentation. Do not merely describe the subject or list the topics to be covered. Rather, state the main point of the presentation, outline the subsidiary points, and summarize the evidence offered, so that a reader who has not heard the presentation will know in brief what will be discussed and can evaluate its contribution to our knowledge and understanding of music. The abstract, like the presentation itself, should be clear to an audience of musicians and music educators of all kinds, not just to those with a narrow specialty. While it may be necessary to set the context or lay out the problem addressed, this should be kept to a minimum.
  3. You may add up to 3 supporting materials to your proposal (optional). These might include printed music examples, photos, statistics, or relevant data. Do not include lengthy documents, dissertations, CVs, resumes, or PowerPoint presentations. Neither file names nor uploaded materials should identify the proposer or any collaborators.
  4. A list of required equipment and audio-visual needs.
  5. A biography of the proposer and each co-presenter, if applicable (250-word maximum per person).
  6. Contact details for all personnel involved in the presentation, including an email address, mailing address, and phone number for each person, as well as an institutional affiliation, if applicable.
• When referencing one’s own previously published research, the proposer should refer to such research in the third person to avoid identifying themselves. For example, hypothetical proposal submitter D. Graham should write, “D. Graham’s article, ‘XYZ,’ summarizes pertinent issues,” instead of writing, “My article, ‘XYZ,’ summarizes pertinent issues.” The wording in the first example protects the anonymity of the author, while the second compromises the author’s anonymity by linking the author of the proposal to previously published work by a named author.
• Submissions that do not conform to the above guidelines will not be considered.

Submit Proposals

Call for Performance

The committee welcomes the submission of proposals for lecture-recitals, performances, or installations with an electroacoustic element (fixed or live media). Proposers should contact Aileen Razey to confirm specifics of the electronics or amplification needed to present their work.

• If invited to present a lecture-recital, a student will be considered for the Diane W. Follet Outstanding Student Scholarship Award (details below).
• Presentations requiring two pianos will be considered. Pianos may be prepared or altered. However, any alterations need to be clearly stated in the proposal and require approval. 

Considerations:

• Performances are intended to present live music and speaking is limited to brief introductory comments. Two types of performances are possible:
  1. Stand-alone Performance: A 25-minute program from a single performer or ensemble that features music by one or more composers. The time limit is inclusive of set-up and tear-down.
  2. Showcase Performance: Brief performance of 10 minutes or less which will be included on a larger concert organized by the Program Committee. The time limit is inclusive of set-up and tear-down.
• Lecture-recitals provide opportunities for a performance combined with a significant amount of speaking. They are limited to 25 minutes each inclusive of delivery, discussion, and/or questions.
• A complete proposal includes:
  • A proposal title and format.
  • Lecture-recital proposals require an abstract of up to 250 words. 
  • Performance proposals require program notes of up to 250 words as well as a list of all titles, movements, and composers being proposed, and indications of the instrumentation and duration of each work. If a proposal includes lengthy pieces which will not be played in their entirety, please, clarify which sections will be performed in the program notes. 
  • Required equipment and internet needs. An internet connection is not guaranteed.
• A digital recording of the performer(s) to demonstrate proficiency. A performance of the actual work being proposed is encouraged but not required. As an alternative, the submitted example should be of a comparable style. Up to 3 supporting materials can be added to your proposal, i.e. printed music examples, photos, statistics, or other relevant data. Do not include lengthy documents, dissertations, CVs, resumes, or PowerPoint presentations.
• A brief biography of the proposer not to exceed 250 words.
• Name of the performing ensemble, if applicable. 
• Brief biographies of the presenters/performers or ensemble not to exceed 250 words. Ensemble biographies may briefly address the achievements of each ensemble member; separate biographies of individual performers are not required.  
• Contact details for all collaborating musicians:
  • email address
  • mailing address
  • phone number 
  • headshot photo (JPG or PNG format, sized at 400x400 pixels)
  • If your presentation includes 3 or more persons, download this spreadsheet, save the file using your name as the file name (e.g., smith_john.xlsx), and complete the requested information for each involved person. You will be required to upload this completed file with your proposal. 

Submit Proposals

STUDENT PRIZES

ELLIOTT S. SCHWARTZ STUDENT COMPOSITION AWARD

The Elliott S. Schwartz Student Composition Award is open to any student who presents an original composition on the program of the Northeast Regional Conference. Students must be enrolled in a college or university within the Northeast Chapter in order to be eligible. An adjudication committee will decide the award winner based on the public performance at the Chapter Conference. The adjudication committee for this award will consist of faculty or professional composers whose music is also being presented at that concert. Faculty from the schools of students who are submitting pieces will not serve on the adjudication committee. 

Student members of the College Music Society are invited to submit original scores. They should follow the procedures in the Call for Scores. Student members of the College Music Society who are selected to present their composition at the conference are automatically considered for the Elliott S. Schwartz Prize for Student Composition. The following guidelines apply to the competition:

1. Entrants to the competition must be (as of March 2026) enrolled in classes at their institution. Bachelor’s, master’s, and pre-ABD doctoral students are eligible. Both full and part-time students are eligible. Students who already hold the degree of Ph.D., D.M.A., D.M., Ed.D. or other terminal degree (excluding M.F.A.) are not eligible.
2. Student submissions will be evaluated as part of the entire pool of submissions for programming at the conference.
3. Students who will provide their own performers must communicate with their performers prior to submission regarding their interest and availability.
4. A cash award of $250 will be given to the winner.
5. The judges reserve the right not to select a winner.
6. The previous year’s winner of the prize is ineligible to be considered for the prize this year but is invited to submit to the regular call for scores.

DIANE W. FOLLET OUTSTANDING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

• Student members of CMS who are selected to present a presentation, paper, or lecture-recital at the conference are automatically considered for the Diane W. Follet Outstanding Student Scholarship Award. The following guidelines apply to the competition: 
  • Entrants to the competition must be enrolled in classes at the undergraduate or graduate level, full- or part-time, as of March, 2026. Students who already hold a terminal degree (excluding MFA) are not eligible to compete.
  • Students must be enrolled at a Northeast institution to qualify.
  • Papers must be read at the conference. Audio and/or visual aids may be used.
  • A cash award of $250 will be given to the winner.
  • The judges reserve the right not to select a winner.
  • The winner of the 2025 Student Paper Competition and Lecture Recital is ineligible to compete in 2026. The 2025 winner is invited to submit a proposal under the regular call for proposals.

The winners of the Elliott S. Schwartz Prize for Student Composition and the Diane W. Follet Outstanding Student Scholarship Award will also be considered in receiving an automatic invitation to present the same proposal at the subsequent CMS National Conference, subject to the approval of the CMS National Conference Program Committee each year, and at the discretion of the evaluating committee at the chapter conference. 

• In the case of collaborative proposals, personnel substitutes are allowed as needed, provided that the primary student proposer is still included.
• If for any reason the awardee is unable to present at the subsequent CMS National Conference, the CMS Northeast Board may, at its discretion, extend this invitation to other awardees in turn. 
• For original composition proposals, all efforts will be made to secure suitable performer(s) at the CMS National Conference, but availability cannot be guaranteed.
• Student travel support is often available through the CMS Executive Office. 

TIMELINE

• Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on December 19, 2025.
• Every effort will be made to notify proposers of the status of their submission by early January.

QUESTIONS?

Questions regarding this call should be directed to:

Dr. Aileen Razey ([email protected])
CMS Northeast Chapter President
2026 College Music Society Northeast Regional Conference