Sally Slade Warner Arrangements & Transcriptions Competition

Congratulations to the winners of the 2022 competition! See the results. Check back later when we announce the next 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: Entries must be playable on a 4-octave carillon (C–D–chromatic–C4; low C♯ omitted), with a 2-octave pedalboard (C–D–chromatic–C2). Notating outside of this range is permitted provided that substitutions are given in the 48-bell range. Arrangements for 2-octave carillon are welcome (again with low C♯ omitted).

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

Prior history: Entries must have been created after the deadline of the last competition—November 2019. 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! (Warner Committee members may participate, but they will abstain from voting on their entries and they will not be eligible to win any of the top 3 prizes)

Quantity: A maximum of 3 entries are allowed, but you may win only 1 of the top 3 prizes.

Submission deadline: December 15, 2021.

No entry fee.

Prizes

One 1st prize and one 2nd prize will be awarded. At the Warner Committee's discretion, a 3rd prize and a number of performance awards may be awarded. All winners are entitled to have their entries performed at the 2022 GCNA Congress (longer works may be excerpted) and have them promoted on the GCNA website. Depending on the entry's copyright status, winners will be offered publication by the GCNA (see Publication and copyright).

• 1st prize: US$750, performance at the 2022 GCNA congress, promotion and/or publication by the GCNA
• 2nd prize: US$500, performance at the 2022 GCNA congress, promotion and/or publication by the GCNA
• 3rd prize: US$250, performance at the 2022 GCNA congress, promotion and/or publication by the GCNA
• Performance award: US$150, performance at the 2022 GCNA congress, promotion and/or publication by the GCNA

How to enter

To enter the competition:

1. Ensure that you have the proper rights to make your arrangement or transcription (see Publication and copyright).
2. Anonymize your score by removing your name and any identifying information.
3. Email your contact information, anonymized score, and any applicable copyright documentation to the Warner Committee secretary, Hunter Chase, at hsachase@gmail.com.

That's it! Questions? Email hsachase@gmail.com.

What to expect after you enter

The jury consists of the following members on the Warner Committee: Margaret Angelini, Scott Orr, 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, Ellen Dickinson, at ellen.dickinson@gmail.com, or to the secretary, Hunter Chase, at hsachase@gmail.com.

Results will be announced on March 1, 2022.

Publication and 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. Winning entries will be offered publication by the GCNA.
• For entries based on copyrighted works, we encourage you to use the platform ArrangeMe. With its library of several million works pre-approved for use, ArrangeMe helps you self-publish arrangements of copyrighted works. It connects with the online sheet music retailer Sheet Music Plus. For such entries only, you must self-publish it through ArrangeMe and Sheet Music Plus before entering it into the competition. When you submit your entry, you must include paperwork showing the upload date, as all entries must have been created within the past 2 years. Winning entries will be promoted on the GCNA website.
• If the copyrighted work you wish to use is not available on ArrangeMe, you are responsible to get permission from the copyright holder to make an arrangement and distribute it. You must do so before you enter the competition. When you submit your entry, you must include documentation showing permission from the copyright holder. Given proper permission, winning entries will be offered publication by the GCNA.

By accepting our offer to publish your entry, you agree to grant full copyright and licensing rights to the GCNA. Otherwise, your entries will remain your sole property (or the sole property of the copyright holder).

2022 competition results

Thank you to everyone who participated—there were 37 entires in total. The Warner Committee's work was a huge challenge, and we're thankful for their effort. We are excited to announce the winning pieces; they will contribute greatly to the carillon repertoire! We will be working with each prizewinner on the publication of their scores, and we look forward to hearing them in Chicago!

• 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

Past prizewinners

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