COMMISSIONS

Compose for Oasis Ensemble

2025 Call for Scores

Oasis Ensemble is seeking works for Flute, Cello and Piano Trio.

Award: Oasis Ensemble is offering a $1,500 cash award and at least two live performance for the winner of our “2025 Call for Scores” for works specifically composed for Flute, Cello and Piano Trio, using standard music notation and traditional techniques for each instrument.

We are looking for: Highest priority will be given to new or recently composed works that have not yet been performed, or work works which have had little exposure.

Length: Composition should be a substantial work of approximately 10-15 minutes in length.

Open to: This competition is open to composers of all ages, genders, sexual preferences, races, and nationalities.

Entrance Fee: There is no entrance fee.

Jury: Works will be evaluated by the members of the Oasis Ensemble and/or may include one or several additional juror(s) at the discretion of the Oasis Ensemble.

*Prize winner: will receive 1,500 U.S. dollars plus have their composition performed by the Oasis Ensemble at least twice during the Oasis Ensemble 2025-2026 concert season. *Please note: we reserve the right to not award a winner.

Deadline: Compositions must be submitted on or before 11:59 PM PDT, August 31, 2025 to be considered for this competition. Any work submitted after this deadline may be considered for future performances by the Oasis Ensemble, but will not be eligible for this competition prize.

Delivery of entries: Scores plus individual parts in PDF format and MP3s must arrive at oasisensemble@gmail.com on or before August 31st, 2025. Please title your online submission with this as the headline: LastName_FirstName_OasisEnsemble2025CallforScores.pdf. Please include your email address and a good telephone number for us to be able to reach you.

Sound files: Recordings or MIDI realizations are strongly encouraged, in MP3 format (standard 128kbps sampling OK).

Criteria: Music will be judged by its ability to reach our audience emotionally. We value rich contrapuntal writing with a variety of colors and dynamics. The composition should be equally accessible to the audience and the performers. Preference will be given to compositions utilizing standard instrument ranges, notation and performance practices.

Application Notification: You will be notified when we receive your submission. If you haven’t heard back from us within two days of submitting your work, please contact Dawn at: (503) 939-5068.

Winner Notification: The winner will be announced and prize money will be sent on or before: October 1, 2025. Winner will be asked on short notice to send a resume (CV), headshot, program notes and/or description of piece to be included when we announce results, so please have that available.

Each season to date, Oasis Ensemble has programmed multiple world premieres, a musically rewarding process that has led to a necessary expansion of quality repertoire composed specifically for flute-cello-piano trio. We seek music that can reach our audience emotionally, with rich contrapuntal writing, and a variety of colors and dynamics, equally accessible to the audience and the performers. This 2024-25 season alone, we are presenting three world premieres: works by Brent Weaver, Carol Worthey, and Ryan Johnston.

We are always searching for new works for our ensemble to program in future seasons, and invite any interested composers to reach out to us at any time!

Previous commissions include:

Roberto Di Marino: Fandango (2019), Tzigane (2024)

Ryan Johnston: Ecstatic Landscape (2025)

Andrew Lewinter: Waltz (2023), Trio for Flute, Cello, and Piano (2023)

Rick Sowash: Flute and Cello Duo (2023), Trio no. 3 (2023), Trio no. 4 (2023), Yo ho ho and a cup of eggnog! A Pirate Christmas (2023), Oasis Suite (2024)

Brent Weaver: Sig Vignettes (2024), Northwest Sketches (2024)

Carol Worthey: Oasis (2023), Circle of Tears, Ray of Hope (2025)