2025 Composition Contest – Rules
Format/Instrumentation
All entries for the 2025 contest must be original, unpublished compositions by women composers for large jazz ensemble featuring an improvised solo.
All entries must include a separate transposed solo sheet of chord changes for each instrument (Eb, Bb, C, C in bass clef) to accommodate any soloist.
Entrants must submit a transposed score and parts for full jazz ensemble in PDF format utilizing the following instrumentation:
- 5 saxophones, AATTB. A soprano can be used for the lead saxophone part. However, a (matching) optional lead alto saxophone part must be provided. Any/all woodwind doubling or soprano saxophone parts are allowed, but must be optional. The chart must be playable without the doubles. Non-doubling parts must also be provided.
- 4 trombones (3 tenor + 1 bass trombone).
- 4 Bb trumpets or flugelhorns. Common mutes (plunger, straight, cup, or harmon) are usable. The 1st trumpet range should go no higher than a written D above the staff (indicate optional higher notes).
- Rhythm section of piano, guitar, bass, and drum set. Any auxiliary percussion part must be optional.
No transcriptions or arrangements (except arrangements of the composer’s own works) will be eligible.
Entries shall be no longer than 10 minutes in length.
The composer must permit Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra to keep the submitted composition for future performances and recordings.
Evaluation
The purpose of the contest is to encourage the composition and performance of the highest possible quality jazz ensemble literature written by women. Therefore, the composition should be conceived and constructed to ensure an effective performance by high school honors jazz ensembles, college and professional bands alike.
Compositions will be judged on:
- Overall musical quality
- Playability/appropriateness for high school, college and professional bands alike
- Proper/professional notation
- Attention to detail on all rules and guidelines
The winning composition will be selected by a panel of highly qualified judges. Composers will be notified by September 15, 2025.
The Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra has the option of withholding the awards if no entries are found to be suitable.
Prizes
The winning composer will receive an honorarium of $500. The honorable mention composer will receive an honorarium of $300. The winning and honorable mention compositions will be performed by the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra.
The winning composer must provide print-ready parts in PDF form to SWOJO by October 1, 2025. The composer agrees that the piece will bear the subtitle “Winner of the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra 2025 Composition Contest.”
The composer must permit Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra to keep the submitted composition for future performances and recordings.