Rules

L.I.E.D. Composition Competition 2023-2024 – New Art Songs for children and youth

I The Competition is open to everyone, regardless of age or nationality

II The Competition consists of three series:

● Series 1: Song Cycle, duration 5–12 minutes, including a minimum of three separate songs

● Series 2: Single Art Song, duration 1-5 minutes

● Series 3: Single Art Song or Song Cycle for children under the age of 10, duration 2–5 minutes. The prize for series 3 is awarded by Luontoliitto (The Finnish Nature Association).

Works participating in Series 1 are automatically included in Series 2, but a maximum of one prize will be awarded per participant.

III Competition entries must meet the following criteria:

a) Each composition is for voice and piano

​b) It is the responsibility of the composer to find an appropriate text, poem and/or translation and to acquire permission to use said text.

​c) The choice of text should reflect the experiences of a child or youth. ​

​d) The technical challenges of the work must be appropriate for the age and development level of a child or youth (see detailed instructions and notes under Pedagogical Guidelines for Composers). ​

e) The songs in the Song Cycle do not have to be the same level of difficulty; a single song cycle can include songs for performers of different levels.

​f) In Competition Series 1 and 2, the language of the composition is at the composer’s discretion. If the language used is other than Finnish, Swedish or English, the composer must provide a translation into Finnish or English. In case the language is other than Finnish, Swedish, ​English, German, Spanish, French or Italian, we recommend including pronunciation guidelines, either written or as an audio file.

g) Entries for Series 3 must be in Finnish and composed for children under 10. The ​Finnish Nature Association will create a music video of the winning piece, which can be designed in collaboration with the composer. The piece should depict one of the following options: ​

• The Finnish ​Nature Association’s Spring Tracking for Children or one of its 12 ​species (coltsfoot, wood anemone, marsh-marigold, birch, wood ant, bumblebee, ladybird, brimstone butterfly, common frog, northern lapwing, white wagtail, and swallow) https://kevatseuranta.fi/opetukseen/ (In Finnish) ​

• The wolf as an animal from a new perspective, not as evil and dangerous, but as a valuable and fascinating creature

• Hiking in nature

IV One composer may submit a total of three works, i.e., take part in each series with one work.

V The competition entries must be previously unpublished and unperformed.

VI Competition entries are to be sent by post as prints with a pseudonym to the following address:

Lasten ja nuorten lied / Anna Grundström

Käsityöläisentie 18 R62, 00750 Helsinki, Finland

Competition entries must be sent by the 31st of December 2023 at the latest. Works sent later will be disqualified from the competition.

Along with the competition piece, in the same shipment, a separate sealed envelope is to be sent containing the attached registration form. The following information should be included: the name of the work, the composer’s name, year of birth, postal address, telephone number, email address, nationality and a signature, with which the composer commits to complying with the competition rules and the decisions of the jury. At the same time, the composer certifies that the work or parts of it have not been performed previously. The sheet music sent for the competition will not be returned to the composers.

VII Description of the evaluation process

The jury of the competition consists of the creators of Art Song for Children and Youth, singer and vocal instructor Saara-Maija Strandman and pianist and piano instructor Marjukka Eskelinen. Joining them are the director of Kuopio Music Centre and musical director of Kuopio Symphony Orchestra Jari Eskola, a representative from the Society of Finnish Composers and a representative from the music publisher Fennica Gehrman Oy. Additionally, a representative of the Finnish Nature Association will join the evaluation process of works competing in Series 3.

The jury will evaluate all works anonymously. The assessment of a piece is based on both the sheet music and the final live performance.

Competition entries will go through a pre-selection process and each finalist will be personally informed of their place in the finale. The pre-selected works will then be distributed to duos for preparation for the finale concert. Performers will rehearse their pieces under the guidance of professional pedagogues. Composers will be offered the opportunity to be present for finale rehearsals for a brief period of time.

VIII Prizes

Competition Series 1: First prize: 3000€, Second prize: 2000€, Third prize: 1500€

Competition Series 2: First prize: 1500€, Second prize: 1250€, Third prize: 1000€

Competition Series 3: First prize: 2000€, Second prize: 1500€

The jury reserves the right to distribute prizes differently. Additional special prizes will be awarded.

IX Music publisher Fennica Gehrman Oy offers the possibility of a publishing contract to the awarded works as part of the Lasten Lied! – Children’s Lied! (Art Song for Children and Youth) book series.

X The organiser of the competition reserves the right to record, film and photograph the final concert and its rehearsals and to publish the recorded material.

Translated from the original Finnish rules by: Ruusu-Maaria Brousseau