Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Competition

The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association and The Writer’s Center have teamed on a special writing competition. To enter the competition, writers must listen to selections of classical music—each piece a part of the WMPA’s 2011-12 season—and write stories, essays, and poems based on the music. (The selections of music are listed below.) Five winners will have their pieces featured at upcoming WMPA shows, and they will give short discussions about their work at the concerts that feature the music they were inspired by. In addition, their work will be published by WMPA in a small journal that will be sold at WMPA events.

Please select one of the following pieces of music on which to base your story, essay, or poem. Note: the dates listed are concert dates. Also NOTE: The music for the December and May concerts has been changed from the original post date. This is the final schedule now, according to WMPA.

October 16 & 23
Leonard Bernstein’s Candide and Chichester Psalms
Jonathan Kolm’s Related to Kaleidoscope
Manuel De Falla’s Three Cornered Hat

December 11 & 18
William McDaniel’s Variations
Ellen Taafe Zwillich’s Bassoon Concerto
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite
Daniel Powers’s Sing in Exultation
Carol Sing-Along

February 12 & 19
Haskell Small’s Scraps
Bob Mintzer’s Rhythm of the Americas with the Washington Saxophone Quartet
Cesar Franck’s Symphony in D minor

March 31 & April 1
Gustav Holst’s Concerto for 2 Violins with Marc Ramirez and Olivia Hajioff
Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes
Frederick Delius’s Songs of Sunset with NOVA Community Chorus

May 27 & June 3
Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto
Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6


Eligibility and Requirements:
• All writers, published or unpublished, are welcome to submit (if eligible; see below). They must, however, be available to attend at least two WMPA events (if selected as winner)
• Writers must develop their work based on a specific piece of music, and they must submit the work by listing the name of the composer they’ve been inspired by. The work should be no more than 1000 words.
• All entries must be received by July 25, 2011 (postmark date). Entries not postmarked prior to or on this date will be ineligible. Manuscripts will not be returned. Please keep your own copies.
• Entry fee: $5 (check payable to the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association. No electronic submissions please.)
• Please include a contact cover sheet indicating name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (no cover letter required).
• Send submissions via regular mail only (postmarked no later than July 25) to
Zachary Fernebok
Administrative Coordinator
4508 Walsh Street
• Bethesda, MD 20815
• The Writer’s Center is not responsible for lost or damaged submissions.
• Writer’s Center staff, board, and workshop leaders may not enter
• If you have questions about the WMPA Writer’s Competition, please address them to Kyle Semmel, publications & communications manager.


The Winner:
The Writer’s Center will find three judges to select a winner. Winners will be announced by mid-August, and they will receive the following:
• A one-year subscription to WMPA events
• Publication of their work in a competition-specific journal published by WMPA
• A public discussion of their work at a single WMPA event (if, for example, the author is inspired by Dvorak, the author will discuss his/her work at that show).
• A video of their performance/discussion