Daejeon, South Korea – The Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) is taking a significant step towards shaping the future of Korean classical music with its inaugural call for original orchestral compositions to be featured in the 2025 Masters Series VIII. This initiative marks the first time the DPO has launched such a public competition, underscoring its commitment to fostering the creative spirit of Korean composers and expanding the repertoire of Korean classical music.
The competition seeks purely orchestral works within an 8 to 12-minute duration, scored for an ensemble of no more than triple winds (meaning a maximum of 3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, and 3 bassoons, along with standard brass, percussion, and strings). To ensure the premiere of entirely new voices, submitted compositions must be original, purely orchestral pieces that have neither been awarded in other composition contests nor previously performed publicly. Notably, concertos and works incorporating Korean traditional instruments are excluded from this call.
The competition is open to all composers of Korean nationality actively working both domestically and internationally. Interested composers can submit their scores between Monday, June 16th, and Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, by 6:00 PM KST. Submissions must be physically received by the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra within this timeframe to be considered valid. Detailed submission guidelines and application information are available on the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra's official website.
The composer of the winning work will receive a commission fee of 3,000,000 KRW, and their composition will be premiered by the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra on Friday, August 22nd, 2025, as part of their Masters Series VIII concert. This performance offers a prestigious platform for the selected composer to showcase their talent to a wide audience.
A representative of the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra stated, "We anticipate great interest and participation in this competition, which aims to discover talented composers active both at home and abroad and to further enrich the creative ecosystem of Korean classical music." This initiative signals the DPO's proactive role in nurturing contemporary Korean musical talent and contributing to the evolution of the nation's classical music landscape.
This call for compositions not only provides a valuable opportunity for composers but also promises to bring fresh and innovative sounds to the concert hall, enriching the musical experience for audiences and solidifying the Daejeon Philharmonic Orchestra's position as a champion of new Korean music.
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