FAQ Arrangement Competition

Who is eligible to participate?

People of all ages with German or Israeli citizenship or with residence in Germany or Israel are eligible to participate.

In what form should I submit the arrangements?

The arrangements must be submitted digitally as PDF and MusicXML without stating your name in the file. If possible, a MIDI file should also be submitted.

Submissions are made by email to: projektbuero[at]deutscher-chorverband.de

What do I have to submit in addition to the arrangements?

Please submit a biography (max. 1,500 characters, with photo) and a short concept letter (without mentioning your name) containing information on the choice of songs and artistic decisions. 
The texts can be submitted in German or English.

An application form is not necessary.

Submissions are made by email to: projektbuero[at]deutscher-chorverband.de

When is the deadline?

The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2024.

What is the purpose of the arrangement competition?

In dealing with choral music's culture of remembrance, composers should create two new choir arrangements of one title each from the Hebrew and German-language parts of the "German-Jewish Songbook of 1912". It is also possible to combine two original songs in one arrangement.

Where can I find the original sheet music?

All materials for the "German-Jewish Songbook of 1912" can be viewed in original and modernized form on the following website:

https://www.arche-musica.org/work/sefer-ha-shirim-das-buch-der-lieder/

For which choir line-up should I arrange?

The arrangement can be for two to four parts. The target group (children's, youth, adult choir, etc.) and the type of chorale (equal voice or mixed) can be chosen freely.

Can I submit an existing work?

The competition evaluates new choral works based on the repertoire of the "German-Jewish Songbook of 1912". The works must not have been performed, published or submitted as part of another competition.

Can I submit a work for choir and accompanying instruments?

Each work should be arranged either for a cappella choir or for a choir with a maximum of one accompanying instrument (guitar or piano) and should be able to be performed unamplified. Body percussion elements are permitted.

How long should the arrangements be?

Both arrangements (or the combination of two originals in one arrangement) should be between 6 and 10 minutes long in total.

Can I submit a collaborative work?

Yes. In this case, please consult Benno Hoppe or Matti Oehl from the German Choral Association: 

benno.hoppe[at]deutscher-chorverband.de or matti.oehl[at]deutscher-chorverband.de.

Can I submit multiple entries to the competition?

No. Each person may only participate once.

What are the jury's evaluation criteria?

A jury of choral music experts evaluates the compositions according to their innovative value, vocal approach, depth of the compositional idea and composition concept with regard to the chosen originals and the idea of choral music's culture of remembrance.

Ideas that enrich choral music with a new or changed element are considered innovative – these can be both expanded vocal and sound techniques as well as ideas for performance practice (e.g. of a dramaturgical nature). Another key criterion for the jury is that amateur choirs should be able to perform them.

What prizes can I win?

A total of €20,000 in prize money is available. The jury decides on the number of prize winners and the distribution of the prize money. In addition, the publisher Schott Music publishes selected arrangements.

All prize winners receive a free ticket for the German Choir Festival 2025 in Nuremberg. Travel and accommodation costs are subsidized up to a maximum of €500 per person (within Germany).

The copyright remains with the arrangers.

The competition participants declare their consent to radio and television recordings and recordings by the Deutscher Chorverband (DCV), as well as sound, video and photo recordings (including their reproduction and use) in connection with the competition, the choir festival and chor.com. The musical works of the participants reproduced on these image and/or sound recordings may be reproduced, distributed, performed, combined with other types of works, broadcast and/or made publicly available without any limitation in terms of content, time and space, provided that it only concerns the non-commercial use of these image and/or sound recordings or press coverage.

Legal recourse is excluded in all matters relating to the competition.