CGNJ Commissioning Competition for New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra

The Composers Guild of New Jersey announces a commissioning opportunity for New Jersey composers to write a new 5-7 minute piece for string quartet for performance and recording by members of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra (NBCO) in the spring of 2026. Any composer who currently lives, works, or studies in New Jersey may apply. One composer will be chosen jointly by CGNJ and the NBCO from among all applicants and given $1,000 on delivery of the score and parts.

The commissioned piece must respond to the theme of the NBCO spring salon, which is:

The 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution 

The commissioned piece must be tied in some way to the Revolutionary War and events surrounding it. Here are three specific topics that composer applicants might consider:

1. Narrative Suite: "Washington’s Crossing," a suite based on the famous Christmas night crossing of the Delaware. NJ was a key site of that campaign, and the composer might somehow use excerpts from George Washington’s correspondence from Morristown.

2. A musical interpretation of Thomas Paine’s The American Crisis, first read to troops in NJ. See The American Crisis - Wikipedia.

3. A musical interpretation of the readings or references to Molly Pitcher, the heroine of the Battle of Monmouth. Molly Pitcher is a legendary figure of the American Revolutionary War, most famously associated with Mary Ludwig Hays and her actions at the Battle of Monmouth. The commissioned piece could take the perspective of this important female figure, a voice that is often left out of the historical narrative.

The deadline for applications is December 14, 2025. There is no application fee. All applicants will be notified by January 4, 2026. The selected composer is expected to provide PDF copies of the music by email to CGNJ and the NBCO by April 1, 2026. CGNJ and the NBCO reserve the right not to award a commission.

To apply, send an email to NBCO_Commission@cgnj.org with “NBCO” as the subject and attach the following: (1) a PDF with a brief bio that includes an explanation of how you meet the eligibility requirements, (2) a PDF with a brief statement of how the commissioned work will respond to the theme, and (3) two representative scores (PDF) and links to corresponding recordings (mp3), which can be on a website or deposited in a dropbox. At least one of the submitted works should show the applicant’s ability to write for string quartet or the component instruments. Please direct any questions to NBCO_Commission@cgnj.org.

For more information, please follow this link: News — Composers Guild of New Jersey.