2025-26 New Composer Program at SPO

DEADLINE: November 26, 2025

The Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is issuing a call for proposals for early career composers and advanced students studying composition interested in composing for string quartet. Four composers will be selected to participate in the program. This is the ninth edition of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Generation Composers’ project.

The performers for this project include the Odin Quartet. During the writing process, each composer will be paired with a mentor composer, who will be a support and resource. The mentorship will include advice on writing the composition, string writing, notation and score/part preparation. Composers will be invited to workshops on composing for strings and aspects of career development. Composers will be supported and advised by SPO music director Ronald Royer.

After rough drafts of the quartets are composed, there will be a workshop session where the compositions will be played. Feedback will be provided by the performers and mentor composers. One composer will be selected to have their music presented on an SPO performance during the 2026-27 season.

This project is open to any composer who meets the eligibility criteria, with four composers being selected.

ELIGIBILITY:

The project is open to emerging composers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, based in Ontario, aged 18 to 35 (older applicants can be considered where life circumstances have delayed access to educational opportunity).
Composers can be involved in-person or online.·
Composers who have participated in a previous SPO New Generation Composer’s Project are not eligible to apply.
Composers can also to apply for the SPO’s New Generation Film Composer’s Project. If selected to both programs, a composer will have to choose between the programs. It isn’t feasible for composers to participate in both programs during the same year.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The maximum duration for the individual pieces to be composed is 5 minutes.
An important aspect of this project is to involve the selected composers in musical collaboration with the performers, composer mentors and SPO administrators.
Selected composers will participate in at least two composer mentorship meetings. Additional mentorship sessions can possibly be arranged. Composers are encouraged to listen to the performers involved in the project via their websites, YouTube, Spotify, etc. (see below for links)
Workshops will take place online, dates TBA.
The composer’s quartets will be workshopped at the CMC (Toronto) in March 2026, date TBA.
The co-ordinator for this project is Daniel Mehdizadeh, SPO Composer-in-Residence Emeritus. SPO Music Director, Ronald Royer, current Composer-in-Residence Ted Runcie, and other composers will be involved.

Submissions: Eligible composers must submit the following to be considered:

Short written proposal (350-word max.): Include your artistic objectives with the piece and your interest in the project, composing for quartet and working with the SPO. If selected, your piece can deviate from this proposal.
CV or Resume: Include a PDF file focusing on your composition activity. Include your contact information, including an email address and phone number, on your CV.
2 sample scores: PDFs of 2 recent scores. You are not required to submit works for string quartet, but including one piece that includes strings is required.
2 sample recordings: Links to streaming audio/video for the 2 scores submitted. MP3 recordings of the two submitted scores (live or MIDI recordings are acceptable). Please ensure that the recording is available for one month following the deadline.

Deadline for Submissions: November 26, 2025

Submissions or enquiries should be send to:

Daniel Mehdizadeh, SPO New Generation Program Coorindator

Email: daniel@spo.ca

Website: www.spo.ca

Project Timeline:

October 27, 2025: Call for scores issued.
November 26, 2025: Applications due.
late December 2025: Participating composers will be selected, and all applicants will be notified of the results.

Composers will be chosen by a jury consisting of SPO composer representatives. The jury’s decision cannot be appealed. Applicants can request feedback from the jury process.

The jury will aim to select a representative group of participants based on the quality of work, diversity/equity, effective instrumental writing and other criteria.

Finalists will participate in a short phone interview with the SPO music director regarding various aspects of the project before the decision is made public.

early January 2026: Mentorship relationships will be established.

The mentorship will take the form of occasional lessons/consultations with established composers who have worked with the SPO.

The mentor will help to shape the process such that completed works reflect the artistic goals of the composer, while being playable by the performers

mid February 2026: Composers will submit rough drafts of their quartets to the SPO for feedback prior to the reading session.
March 2026: Composers will workshop their compositions with the performers. Composers will receive feedback from their performers and SPO composers. Composers will participate in person or online. Composers will receive an archival recording of their music.
early April 2026: one composer will be selected to have their music performed on an SPO concert during the 2026-27 season.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

SPO New Generation Artist and Composer Programs are made possible through the generous support of The City of Toronto (Film and Entertainment Industries, Music Office), The Gooder Foundation and the SOCAN Foundation.

About the SPO:

The SPO is a community orchestra, dedicated to enriching our community through high-quality musical performances. The orchestra also presents a series of professional chamber music concerts.

An important part of our mandate is supporting, encouraging and mentoring new generation performers and composers. The SPO has produced nine professional commercial albums, including Canadian Panorama (the winds of the SPO), Canadian Expedition (various ensembles from the orchestra), Journey Through Night (Odin Quartet, ensemble-in-residence), Jamaican Quartets (Ted Runcie, composer, Odin Quartet), Between the Lines (Odin Quartet), Night Music, Chamber Music of Ronald Royer (various ensembles), Everything Waits for the Lilacs (Alexander Panizza, piano), Mystic Journey (The Ezra Duo) and Songs of Hope (mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan and the SPO chamber ensemble). These recordings feature music by Ontario composers and were designed to help promote Canadian composers and performers worldwide. Two more albums will be released during the 2025-2026 season.