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.

Range: The competition will accept entries for a 4-octave carillon (C–D–chromatic–C4; omitting low C♯), with a 2-octave pedalboard (C–D–chromatic–C2); and for a 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. Arrangements for 2-octave carillon are encouraged and will be considered alongside arrangements for 3-octave carillon.

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 3-octave carillon or smaller.

Submission deadline: November 1, 2024.

No entry fee.

Prizes and publication

To be announced.

How to enter

To be announced. Submissions will open September 1, 2024.

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 †.