2025 Choral Composition Program

Roots in the Sky invites composers to apply for our 2025 Choral Composition Program, to be held August 21-24 in Bozeman, Montana and presented in partnership with Tinworks Art. We welcome applications from all composers but particularly encourage students and emerging composers with limited experience writing for choir to apply. Applicants must be aged 18+ and must currently reside in the US.

Participants will compose a new a cappella choral work, 4-8 minutes in length, broadly inspired by the concert themes of the legacy of earthen materials (e.g. clay, soil, and adobe), humankind's ties to the land, and sense of place. There is no tuition or cost to participate.

Composers selected for the program will receive:

  • Premiere performances of their work in August 2025.

  • A professional recording for non-commercial, promotional use.

  • Roundtrip travel and accommodations for the premiere performances.

  • Feedback and support sessions during the drafting phase with composer Michael Gilbertson and Roots in the Sky Artistic Director Andrew Major.

Application Requirements:

  • A résumé/CV.

  • A list of works.

  • Two representative works (with recordings), including at least one that demonstrates your ability to write for voice.

  • A brief proposal for the piece you intend to compose, including possible texts. The work should align with the program’s themes of "the legacy of earthen materials (e.g. clay, soil, and adobe), humankind's ties to the land, and sense of place." Applicants are responsible for securing permissions for any texts not in the public domain.

  • Contact information (email and phone) for two professional or academic references.

  • A $25 application fee submitted via PayPal.

Key Dates:

  • Application Deadline: January 15

  • Accepted Applicants Notified: March 1

  • Draft Due: June 15

  • Final Score Due: July 15

  • Performance Dates: August 23 & 24, 2025

Application