Win a professional recording session

Receive an industry-leading distribution deal

Retain your copyright

Submit your original work for string orchestra to Zicato Music! One winner will receive an exclusive two-year sheet music distribution deal and an all-expenses-paid recording of their work with a prominent European scoring orchestra!

The winning composer will:

  • Receive full buyout rights to an all-expenses-paid live recording of their music with a professional European scoring orchestra.

  • Have their work’s sheet music professional printed and distributed by Zicato Music

  • Retain all copyrights and performance/mechanical royalties to their music

  • Receive a significant portion of what their sheet music sells for

Listen to 2024’s winner: The Odyssey of a Seafarer by Aaron Soltis:

Restrictions

  • Composer must be 18 years or older and must reside within the United States as of January 1, 2025. There are no restrictions on the composer's ethnicity or experience.

  • The submitted work must be for string orchestra and composed at a Grade 2, Grade 3, or Grade 4 level (please click here for guidelines on each grade). Submissions with additional instruments will not be considered.

  • The submitted work must be original and unpublished. The composer must own the copyright of the music.

  • Each string orchestra submission must consist of the follow sections: Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Violoncello, and Double Bass. Each section may have up to two (2) divisi parts.

  • The work can be a maximum of 5 minutes in length.

  • Only one entry per composer, so choose your best work!

  • Entry Fee is $10 (submitted at the end of the application)

  • Submission Deadline: April 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST.

For full contest rules, please see our full Terms and Conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Other than the fantastic opportunity to get your music recorded by world class musicians? Because you’ll also receive the highest quality of professional sheet music production available, have your music distributed across the United States through Zicato Music’s network of retailers (including JW Pepper and more), and have your music displayed at conventions such as The Midwest Clinic and TMEA.

  • Zicato Music is a new type of music press that provides composers with all the benefits of publishing their music, whilst allowing composers to keep a larger percentage of what their music sells for, and without requiring composers to give up the copyright to their music. Find out more here.

  • Zicato Music is proudly focused on finding great new literature for the music education market. We believe in music that has a broad appeal to students, audiences, and conductors alike. We encourage you to submit music that would appeal to a large audience, but also has the ability to engage young musicians!

  • Any composer above the age of 18 residing in the United States as of January 1, 2025. Sorry, no international entries.

  • Zicato Music brings the professional quality of traditional published music, without requiring a composer to sign away the rights to their music. With Zicato, a composer will retain their copyright, make all of the proceeds on their performance/mechnaical royalties, and make a significantly larger percentage of what their music is sold in comparison to a traditional publisher. Furthermore, our initial contract is only bound by two years so you are not required to stay with us beyond that time (but we hope you will!)

  • No, the winner must agree to an exclusive 2-year sheet music distribution contract with Zicato Music in order to also receive the recording session. Note: This contract is only exclusive to the distribution of sheet music. The composer will retain the copyright of their music and all rights to the recording (Zicato Music will have rights to use the recording for promotional use)