CoLab SA Call for Scores & Competition

CALL FOR SCORES & WORKSHOP COMPETITION

For South African Composers

CoLab SA: A New Music Initiative is pleased to announce an open Call for Scores for South African composers writing for Mizar Trio (flute, percussion, and cello).
This initiative is supported by the National Arts Council of South Africa.

This programme offers a rare opportunity for composers in South Africa to gain insight into the full artistic cycle — from composition and collaboration, rehearsal and performance, to studio recording and album production. Participants engage with these phases through guided workshop participation, direct observation, and collaboration with Mizar Trio — all provided completely free. CoLab SA is designed to support young, student, early-career, and emerging South African composers through a process that is safe, inclusive, and creatively experimental.

There is no application fee and no participation fee.

Whether you're a student composer discovering your voice or an emerging artist refining your craft, we welcome you into this collaborative space.

About the Opportunity

Six composers will be selected for an in-person reading session and collaborative workshop with Mizar Trio, in Cape Town on 21 March 2026.

Mizar Trio is a national-calibre contemporary ensemble committed to championing new South African music. Its members are leading performers with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Selected participants will have the rare opportunity to collaborate directly with musicians who specialise in contemporary repertoire and approach new scores with care, rigour, and genuine curiosity.

Our resident composer, Allan X. Chen, will lead the workshop and provide one-to-one consultations for selected participants. He is an award-winning South African composer whose works have been performed internationally by ensembles including the JACK Quartet and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Participants will receive:

• Live workshop time and in-session artistic feedback with Mizar Trio
• A one-to-one creative consultation (online) with our resident composer
• Video and audio recordings of their workshop session (for educational & portfolio use)
• Free access to Mizar Trio’s dress rehearsal & concert performance on 20 March 2026
• Free access to the recording sessions of Mizar Trio's upcoming album from 23-25 March 2026

From the workshop cohort, one composer will be selected for:

• A public performance of their work at the CoLab SA concert in March 2026
• Inclusion of their piece in project promotion and media

This programme centres the development of new South African classical music by opening typically closed phases of music-making. By bringing early-career composers directly into this ecosystem, CoLab SA helps build sustainable creative infrastructure within SA’s contemporary classical sector, highlighting that music can be created and distributed within the country.

Please note: workshop participation does not include a public performance or studio recording of submitted works. Only one workshop piece will be selected for public performance.
 

Eligibility

• Open to all South African citizens (no age limit)
• No location restrictions (participants may be based anywhere in or outside SA)
• Composers at all stages welcome, with a special encouragement to student and emerging voices
• Works must be written for Mizar Trio: flute, percussion, and cello

Composition Requirements & Instrumentation
 

Works may be newly composed, existing pieces written within the last five years, works-in-progress, or single movements from larger works, whether previously performed or not. Only unpublished works are eligible for submission. 

To ensure each participant receives meaningful workshop time, we recommend a duration of 3–6 minutes. Longer works may be considered at the discretion of the ensemble, depending on technical demands and practical feasibility.

Works may use any subset of the available players: Flute (piccolo, C flute, alto flute), cello, and percussion. Solo or duo works are also welcome.

Please limit your percussion writing to 3 instruments from the list below.

• Marimba
• Marimba
• Drum kit (bass drum, 3 toms, snare)
• African / Goema drum
• Small gong
• 17" crash cymbal (Istanbul) and/or 10" splash cymbal
• Triangle
• Castanets
• Woodblocks

Extended Techniques & Preparations
Composers are welcome to explore extended techniques and unconventional approaches. If your work includes instrumental preparations, unusual materials, or techniques that may risk instrument damage, please consult the performers directly (their email addresses will be provided upon request)

Submission

Please submit the following via email to: info.colabsa@gmail.com 

• Name & contact details
• A4 Full score (PDF)
• A4 Performance-ready parts (PDF)
• MIDI rendering, or recording, of your piece
• Copy of South African ID
• Copy of School/University ID (if applicable)
• A brief statement (max 200 words) explaining: why you would like to participate, and what you hope to gain from the opportunity.

If you require alternative submission formats or have accessibility needs related to the application process, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to discuss options to ensure equitable access.

Selection Criteria
Submissions will be reviewed based on artistic potential, clarity of musical ideas, and suitability for the workshop format.

Deadline:
15 January 2026, 17:00 SAST
Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Selected composers will be notified by email no later than 31 January 2026.

We truly recognise the value of constructive feedback and will offer commentary where possible. While we cannot guarantee feedback for all applicants, we will prioritise early submissions and do our best to provide meaningful guidance within our capacity. If you would like to be considered for feedback, please indicate this in your application email. 

Feel free to contact us via email or on Instagram @CoLabSA_NewMusic with any questions.

This call is part of a broader effort to expand the landscape of contemporary South African classical music. If you are excited by collaboration, interested in exploring new sonic possibilities, or looking to deepen your professional practice, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Institutions, organisations, and individuals interested in engaging with CoLab SA are welcome to contact us directly.