January 23-25, 2025
Western Michigan University
SPLICE is excited to announce a call for proposals for its sixth annual SPLICE Festival, taking place at the Western Michigan University, Thursday-Saturday January 23-25, 2025 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. SPLICE welcomes proposals from performers, composers, composer/performer teams, and composer-performers for works that feature human-driven live performance (on traditional or nontraditional instruments) and electronics (fixed or live), 90 minute hands-on workshops, and fifteen-minute lectures.
SPLICE Festival will include five concerts, along with presentations and hands-on workshop sessions. Concerts will feature performances selected from submitted works and a curated concert by the SPLICE Ensemble. Presentations and workshops will serve Western Michigan students and festival attendees.
There is no application fee and no registration fee. However, participants are asked to be in attendance for the duration of the Festival.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
SPLICE Festival essentially follows a music conference paradigm, offering 3 days of concerts, lectures, and workshops at a different host institution each year. This year it happens to be at the same institution as our annual SPLICE Institute. See below for details!
SPLICE Institute is a week-long intensive summer program that takes place every year also at Western Michigan University. In addition to concerts, lectures, and panels, we offer a series of technology classes/workshops. For more details about SPLICE Institute, see our Institute page.
DEADLINE: August 1 at 11:59 PM EDT
Proposals may include (but are not limited to):
Participant performances of works
A new piece composed for SPLICE Ensemble
Hands-on workshops
Lecture presentations
Proposal Guidelines
Concert Work Proposals
• All works must include a live performance component
• All works must include electronics, either fixed or live
• Works less than 20 minutes are preferred
• Due to the collaborative spirit promoted by SPLICE Festival, we strongly prefer that the performers listed on the application be those who will perform at the Festival
SPLICE Ensemble Proposals
• Pieces do not need to have been composed at the time of the proposal
• Proposals may be for arrangements or already composed pieces in addition to new works
• Works less than 20 minutes are preferred
• Any combination of instruments (trumpet, piano, percussion) is welcome, though preference will be given to works including all three performers
• Preference will be given to works whose electronic component can be performed by the Ensemble (i.e., pieces do not require a fourth person running electronics)
• All three members of the SPLICE Ensemble can perform electronics (instead of their instruments)
• Include a written statement proposing the nature of the collaboration
• Pieces should involve only one computer/interface
• Percussion instruments are limited to a drum set consisting of:
• Kick drum
• Snare drum (can substitute Frame drum)
• Rack-mounted Tom toms (2)
• Floor Tom
• High hat
• Crash cymbals (2)
• Ride cymbal
• Trap table of various small percussion objects (prayer bowls, wood blocks, coffee cans, toys, etc.)*
*The Ensemble is open to various small objects, but asks that these be determined in consultation with the Ensemble.
Presentation and Workshop Proposals
We encourage proposals for 15-minute lecture presentations and for 90-minute hands-on workshops.
Lecture presentations may, but are not required to, focus on the technical and/or aesthetic features of a submitted work, including performance, creative practices, and/or technology.
Software workshops are encouraged, and presenters will have access to the music school’s computer lab. (The lab has 18 computers, though can accommodate up to 25 people.)
General Submission Guidelines
• There is no application fee
• Submissions must be received by August 1 at 11:59 PM EDT
• Individuals can be involved in no more than two submissions
• All participants must attend the entire Festival.
• Submissions must include a list of tech requirements, including what the presenter is asking SPLICE to provide.
• The SPLICE Festival concert space will be the Dalton Recital Hall at Western Michigan University and will be equipped with a 4.1 sound system
• Only online submissions will be considered.
• Supporting materials must be provided as links to files; file uploads are not permitted.
• Applicants will be notified by September 1, 2024
• Please direct all questions to festival@splicemusic.org
• Please visit the Apply button (top of this page) to submit a proposal
Required with Submission
• Contact information
• List of performers and instruments
• Links to stream or download a recording of the work; mockups are acceptable
• Links to view or download a score, if applicable
• List of equipment you will provide
• List of equipment you will need SPLICE Festival to provide
• Short Bios (150 word maximum) for all individuals involved
• Program Notes
• A two to four sentence proposal for a fifteen-minute presentation on the submitted work (optional)
• A four sentence proposal for a 90 minute hands-on workshop (optional)
• An agreement to attend the entire event