The cultural movement Renaissance-21 invites composers from all over the world to submit their orchestral works for a historic concert at Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall) on November 12, 2026. The concert program highlights the world premiere of the Lost Suite in D minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff, together with new works from outstanding, internationally acclaimed composers brought together by the Renaissance-21 movement.

We are looking for powerful, tonally-driven orchestral pieces that reflect the spirit of our time. One selected work will be performed live by the Mid-Atlantic Philharmonic Orchestra.

• Submission Fee: $0 (Completely Free to Apply)
• No age limits
• Application Deadline: October 1, 2026
• Submission Form: here

Please note that there will be only one winner. The name of the competition winner will be published on our website on October 5th, 2026. On our part, we will contact the winner directly via email.

THE MISSION & VALUES (OUR MANIFESTO)

The core purpose of this open call is to find voices that resonate with the philosophy of our movement. An essential requirement for all applicants is to deeply share, support, and reflect the core cultural values outlined in the Renaissance-21 Manifesto.

Your composition must conceptually address the pivotal question of our movement:
“What does Renaissance-21 mean to you today? How have you implemented the principles of Renaissance-21 into your submitted piece?"

We are looking for music that embodies a rebirth of cultural values, structural mastery, emotional depth, and beauty in the 21st century — moving forward in perfect alignment with the principles of our Manifesto.

BENEFITS FOR SELECTED COMPOSER

Having your work selected for this concert offers exceptional international visibility and prestige. Winners of the open call will receive:

• Live Performance: A world-class premiere of the piece by the MidAtlantic Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall) on Nov 12th 2026.
• Official Digital Billing: The composer’s name and the title of their work will be officially featured on the Carnegie Hall website.
• Printed Program & Booklet: The composer’s name, biography, and program notes will be published in the official Carnegie Hall concert program and booklet distributed to the audience on the night of the performance.

COMPOSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Duration: Up to 5 minutes maximum.
• Musical Style: Tonal (modality and extended tonality are allowed as well). The piece must have a clear structure. The composition should possess a clear sense of melodic focus and organic development, avoiding disjointed, atonal, or purely noise-based textures.
• Orchestration: Works must be written for a Double Woodwind Symphony Orchestra (up to 36 players maximum). You may use the full instrumentation listed below or a smaller subset of it (e.g., omitting certain percussion instruments).
• Status of the Piece: We accept both brand-new works and previously performed compositions. If the piece has been performed before, you must include its performance history.

MAXIMUM ORCHESTRA SPECIFICATIONS (36 Players)
Note for Composers: This is the maximum available instrumentation. You are welcome to use fewer instruments if your piece requires a smaller chamber/sinfonietta setup.



OUR SELECTION PROCESS: 100% BLIND AUDITION

Renaissance 21 stands for true artistic merit. To ensure absolute fairness, our jury uses a strict blind audition process.

• Anonymity: All scores and audio files must be submitted anonymously (free of your name or signature). Create a Motto/code word: You must come up with a motto or a single code word that captures the spirit and title of your musical work.
• No Bias: The name, gender, nationality, and background of the composer do not influence the selection process. Works are evaluated solely by the jury based on their artistic quality, craftsmanship, and alignment with the Renaissance-21 philosophy.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

To apply, please complete the form.

Anonymous Materials (For the Jury):

• Full Score (PDF) — No name or country indicated on the score or anywhere else.
• Audio Mockup / Recording (MP3/WAV or private link) — Anonymous.
• A short essay answering the question: “What does Renaissance-21 mean to you today? How have you implemented the principles of Renaissance-21 into your submitted piece?" This essay should also explicitly reflect how your artistic views align with the values stated in our Manifesto.” This essay should also explicitly reflect how your artistic views align with the values stated in our Manifesto.

Identity Materials (For the Moderators Only):

• Your full name and contact info.
• Piece History: State whether the piece is a world premiere or has been performed before. If it has been performed, provide the history (dates, venues, ensembles).

THE JURY PANEL

Your works will be evaluated by an international panel of distinguished conductors and producers:

• Jason Tramm — Artistic director and Principal conductor of the MidAtlantic Philharmonic Orchestra, Director of Choral Activities at Seton Hall University.
• Olsi Qinami — Music director and Principal conductor of the London City Philharmonic, conductor at the National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Albania, professor of Conducting at the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania.
• Teodor Doré — Pianist, composer, and co-founder of the Renaissance-21.
• Victoria Pakhomova — Producer and co-founder of Renaissance-21.
• Anastasia Roytman — Internationally acclaimed soprano.

Join us in shaping the new cultural Renaissance. We look forward to hearing your music.