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National Commission Opportunity at PODIUM 2026
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The Podium SATB Choirs National Commission Consortium consists of mixed-voice choirs/singing groups that pool their resources to commission a new work for SATB choirs/singing groups.
The purpose of this project is to provide an affordable opportunity for choirs and singing groups in Canada to pool their resources in order to commission a new work from an established Canadian composer and perform co-premieres of the new work across the country, thus bringing about a new piece accessible to SATB community choirs and singing groups. This pilot project is focused on SATB choirs; future editions will focus on different voicings. Each choir/singing group will pay a commission fee, which will allow them access and rights to the piece born of the consortium.
The 2026 Call for Participation is open until October 20, 2025.
Upon completion of the commission, each group will receive a copy of the manuscript with the rights to copy for their own group’s premiere performance. Each group (including the director/leader's name, if desired) will be listed in the score of the composition as the commissioners as well as on Choral Canada’s website.
The PODIUM 2026 National Commission Consortium composer is Christine Donkin. Learn more about Christine on page 3 of this linked PDF document.
ABOUT THE NEW WORK
- SATB with minimal divisi, with piano or a cappella
- Top range for sopranos: G5
- Bottom range for basses: F2
- Divisi: none for tenors, otherwise minimal
- If a cappella, a piano reduction will be provided
- Optional minimal percussion (must be playable by a singer)
- Duration: 3 minutes
- Text: “Lookout” by Raine Hermosa - a poem about fire lookout towers
- Premiere:
- World premiere will be at PODIUM 2026 - premiering group TBD
- Participating consortium choirs co-premiere the work after Podium
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Sign Up: CLICK HERE to submit your interest in participating in the commissioning project. A confirmation email will be sent shortly after your submission is received. An invoice will be sent to the director/organization following the deadline for participation. The submitting director OR group must be an active member of Choral Canada OR the BC Choral Federation in order to participate.
Cost: The commission fee is $300 per choir. Payment in full will be due by November 21, 2025. An invoice will be sent to all participants via email following the October 20, 2025 sign-up deadline.
Please note: By submitting the sign-up form, you are committing to participating in the consortium and paying the participation fee.
SCHEDULE FOR PARTICIPATION
- Call for participation – August-October 2025
- Deadline for participation application – October 20, 2025
- Invoices sent to consortium members – October 24, 2025
- Payment deadline – November 21, 2025
- Commissions provided to participating groups – March 2026
- New work is premiered at PODIUM 2026 by an invited choir – May 2026
Participating groups may start performing the new work starting May 17, 2026 (after the premiere at PODIUM 2026). The exclusivity period extended to participating groups ends on June 30, 2027.
ANY QUESTIONS? Please contact Laura Hawley, Meet the Music Creators committee member, at [email protected].
