Submission Deadline: September 2, 2026 (Closed)
First Prize: $10,000 USD
Second Prize: $6,000 USD
Eligibility: Composers residing in the United States, age 18-26 on the deadline for submission, September 1, 2026. Previous winners, as well as faculty and staff of the University of Louisville and their spouses and children are not eligible to enter. Current and former students of the University of Louisville and their spouses are not eligible to enter.
The University of Louisville School of Music will seek out opportunities to perform the winning works, but such performances are not guaranteed. In the event of a performance, the Award Committee will underwrite the composer’s expenses (travel, lodging, and meals) to Louisville to attend rehearsals and the performance. The winning composers agree to give a presentation about their music to the Composition Seminar and engage in other similar activities while in Louisville.
This Award was established by a generous bequest from the estate of Frank Robert Abell, a longtime Louisville philanthropist with close ties to the University of Louisville School of Music. He had a deep love for contemporary music and a strong desire to help younger composers.
Deadline: September 1, 2026, 11:59pm ET. All materials must be received by this deadline.
Medium: Works for Woodwind Quintet (with indicated doublings allowed): C-Flute (piccolo, alto flute), B-flat Clarinet (bass), Oboe (English horn), Horn (standard mutes only), Bassoon (contrabassoon). The submitted composition must be for the full ensemble, and may have already been performed, recorded and/or published. The winning composers will assume responsibility for providing adequate performance materials at no cost to the Award Committee upon request.
Entry fee: None.
Limit: One entry per composer.
Duration: 25 minutes maximum.
Single or multiple movements are acceptable.
The online entry form must be completed, and a brief program note and bio in English submitted along with it.
All materials should be submitted digitally through the submission portal. A complete score is required. No works in progress or revisions after the call will be accepted. A recording is highly encouraged but not required. MIDI mockups are acceptable in absence of a recording.
Winners agree that the University of Louisville School of Music may perform and/or record the winning works without fee or royalty in perpetuity. The winners agree to the use of their names, in addition to video and audio recordings of their work, for publicity purposes.
Jury: A panel of judges consisting of University of Louisville music composition faculty members and Louisville-area music community members will select the winning compositions.
Notification of winners: by November 15, 2026
The Award Committee reserves the right to withhold either or both prizes.
Questions should be directed to John Ritz at the University of Louisville via email.
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