Morton Gould Young Composer Awards

Scholarship Sponsored by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

The ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, named in honor of the late Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and former president of The ASCAP Foundation, Morton Gould, are designed to foster the growth of young composers. These awards are open to composers of original, concert music and aim to support these budding artists in the early stages of their careers.

Before applying for these awards, it is crucial to understand the specific rules and requirements, including eligibility, the selection process, and the criteria for the awards. By participating in the award process, all entrants agree to abide by the Official Rules and the decisions of The ASCAP Foundation and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), which are final and binding in all respects. Any terms not specifically defined here are explained in the Official Rules.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible for the award, an entrant must be at least 13 years old, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or a student with a valid and current U.S. student visa. They must be under the age of 30 as of February 6, 2025, and either an ASCAP writer member in good standing, unaffiliated with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO), or a member of an International PRO whose works are licensed through ASCAP.

If the entrant is under 18, a parent or guardian must complete and submit the application on their behalf and provide a signed Parental Consent Form. Please remember not to include the contact information of a minor on the application or the Parental Consent Form.

It's important to note that co-written submissions will not be considered for the awards. Also, if you have previously received three or more Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, you are not eligible for these awards. However, other previous recipients of any Foundation award can apply, but their submission must be a work written after the work that earned them their previous awards.

Each entrant is allowed one submission. If multiple submissions are received from the same entrant, only the first will be considered; subsequent submissions will be disqualified.

When to Apply?

The application period begins on January 6, 2025, and ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 6, 2025. If applicable, completed hard copy Parental Consent forms must be received by February 6, 2025.

What to Submit?

To be considered for the award, entrants must submit a completed online application, a score of one published or unpublished original concert work (no arrangements), and an mp3 of an electronic realization or recording of the musical work. If the entrant is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must complete and submit the application on their behalf and provide a signed Parental Consent Form.

The submitted musical work must be entirely original, written within three years before the date of submission, and all uploaded materials must bear the entrant's name. For vocal compositions setting text or a translation of text, entrants must provide evidence that the text or translation is either in the public domain or used with written permission from the author, translator, or the relevant representative.

How Are Submissions Judged?

Each eligible submission will be evaluated by a panel of ASCAP composer members based on the significance, overall artistry, and compositional elements of the musical work. The judges, selected by the Foundation, will make the final and binding decisions, including the selection of award recipients.