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Sally Slade Warner Arrangements & Transcriptions Competition

For centuries, carillonneurs have adapted existing music to play for their audiences. As the notes float down from bell towers, listeners are thrilled to hear music they recognize. The repertoire of carillon arrangements and transcriptions is constantly growing, but not fast enough! Are you ready to contribute?

The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America invites you to enhance the carillon repertoire by entering the Sally Slade Warner Arrangements and Transcriptions Competition. Held every 2 years, it is named in honor of Sally Slade Warner (1932–2009). She was a respected member of the GCNA, wrote many arrangements of exceptional quality, and generously provided the endowment that funds the prizes.

What we're looking for

What's a carillon?
It's a concert instrument made of bronze bells that are played with the hands and feet from a keyboard. Arranging for carillon is an important way carillonneurs connect to their audiences.

Type: Entries must be an arrangement or transcription of an existing musical work for solo or duet performers.

Length: Entries of any length are allowed, and may consist of multiple movements.

Range: The competition will accept entries for the following ranges:

  • 4-octave carillon (C–D–chromatic–C4; omitting low C♯), with a 2-octave pedalboard (C–D–chromatic–C2); and
  • 2- to 3-octave carillon (C–D–E–chromatic–C3, omitting low C♯ and D♯), with a 1.5-octave pedalboard (C–D–E–chromatic–G1).

Entries may include alternative notes outside of the given range.

Copyright status: Entries based on works both in the public domain and under copyright are allowed (see Copyright).

Prior history: Entries must have been created after the deadline of the last competition—December 2021. Entries that have already been published or sold or that have already won a prize are ineligible. Entries that have been performed publicly prior to submission are allowed.

Open to: Everyone, except for members of the Warner Committee.

Quantity: A maximum of 2 entries are allowed; one for 4-octave carillon, and one for 2- to 3-octave carillon.

Submission deadline: November 1, 2024.

No entry fee.

Prizes and publication

The committee intends to award two 1st prizes: one to an entry for 4-octave carillon, and one to an entry for 2- to 3-octave carillon. At the committee’s discretion, a 2nd prize and a number of performance awards may also be awarded. All winning entries will be performed at the 2025 GCNA Congress (longer works may be excerpted) and promoted on the GCNA website.

By accepting a 1st or 2nd prize, entrants agree to grant full copyright and licensing rights to the GCNA. Performance award winners will be given the option for publication through the GCNA.

  • 1st prizes: US$900 each, performance at the 2025 GCNA Congress, promotion, and publication by the GCNA
  • 2nd prize: US$550, performance at the 2025 GCNA Congress, promotion, and publication by the GCNA
  • Performance award: US$150, performance at the 2025 GCNA Congress, promotion, and optional publication by the GCNA

Note: Entries based on copyrighted works available through ArrangeMe that win 1st and 2nd prizes will be published through the GCNA's ArrangeMe account promptly upon the announcement of the results. Publication rights for such pieces are sometimes unpredictable and are outside the control of the GCNA. To ensure that winning entries are available to the GCNA membership, payment will be released two weeks after the close of the 2025 GCNA Congress. If publication rights are withdrawn prior to that date, the GCNA may rescind the prize.

How to enter

You may submit at most two entries: one for 2- to 3-octave carillon, and one for 4-octave carillon. For each entry:

  1. Ensure that you have the proper rights to make and publish your arrangement or transcription. If you are arranging a copyrighted work, include a screenshot showing that the piece is available through ArrangeMe.
    • If a copyrighted work is not available through ArrangeMe, please contact the Warner Committee chair at warner@gcna.org before submitting.
  2. Anonymize your score by removing your name and any other identifying information. Submit your score as a PDF file.
  3. While not required, you are highly encouraged to include some reference to familiarize the jurors with the source material, such as (but not limited to) a score (full, partial, or melody), a recording, or a paragraph describing the history, context, or meaning of the piece. Such material should also have any identifying information removed.
  4. Email your contact information along with all of the above to the Warner Committee chair, Hunter Chase, at warner@gcna.org.

That's it! Questions? Email warner@gcna.org.

What to expect after you enter

The jury consists of the following members on the Warner Committee: Margaret Angelini, Lisa Lonie, Michael Solotke, Minako Uchino, and Lynnli Wang. They will evaluate entries based on their usefulness to the carillon community, namely their effectiveness on the carillon, playability, originality, and general musical interest. The jury will give consideration to entries that enhance the current repertoire or that represent diverse cultures, ideas, or musical styles.

To preserve anonymity, we ask that you not contact any members of the jury, directly or indirectly. Send your questions to the Warner Committee chair, Hunter Chase, at warner@gcna.org.

Results will be announced on March 1, 2025.

Copyright

As long as your entry has not already been published or sold, you are allowed to submit arrangements and transcriptions of works both in the public domain and under copyright.

  • For entries based on works in the public domain, there's no need to worry! You have all the necessary rights.
  • For entries based on copyrighted works, the competition will use the ArrangeMe platform. Check that your piece is available through ArrangeMe via search, but do not publish your arrangement through ArrangeMe.
  • If the copyrighted work you wish to use is not available on ArrangeMe, the competition may decline to accept your submission. In all cases, it is your responsibility to do the appropriate research and obtain the proper copyright permissions. If you intend to submit an arrangement of a copyrighted work not available through ArrangeMe, contact the Warner Committee chair at warner@gcna.org before submitting.

Submissions that do not win prizes will remain the sole property of the arranger (or the sole property of the copyright holder). The jury's copies of the entries will be destroyed following the contest.

Past prizewinners

Purchase prizewinners published by the GCNA at our music store. Prizewinners published elsewhere are marked with a dagger †.

2022

  • 1st prize: "Lunar New Year Fantasy,"† a Chinese folk song, arranged by Matthew Tran-Adams
  • 2nd prize: "La fille aux cheveux de lin" by Claude Debussy, arranged by Mary Jo Disler
  • Performance award: "Lacquiparle," a Dakota hymn, arranged by Peter Paul Olejar
  • Performance award: "Gamelan," from Java Suite by Leopold Godowsky, arranged by Mary Jo Disler
  • Performance award: "Remember Me"† by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, arranged by Paul Stelben
  • Performance award: "El Coquí" by José Ignacio Quintón, arranged by Carlos Colón-Ortiz
  • Performance award: "Organ Concerto in B-flat Major (HWV 294)" by G. F. Handel, arranged by Wesley Arai

2020

  • 1st prize: "Itsuki Lullaby," a Japanese folk song, arranged by Naoko Tsujita
  • 2nd prize: "Arirang," a Korean folk song, arranged by Daniel Guo
  • 3rd prize: "The Snow is Dancing"† by Claude Debussy, arranged by Richard de Waardt
  • Performance award: "The Spruce"† by Jean Sibelius, arranged by Keiran Cantilina
  • Performance award: "Three Christmas Pieces"† by various composers, arranged by Mary Jo Disler


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