The Guitar Society is seeking to encourage new compositions for guitar ensemble and allow the Guitar Society Orchestra to play more works by Australian and Western Australian young or emerging composers. The composition is named in honour of the late Dr Duncan Gardiner who was one of the most talented young guitarists and composers to emerge from Western Australia, and who was much loved by the WA guitar community.

1)      The Competition is open to emerging Australian resident composers.

2)      The piece must:

a)      have a connection to Western Australian (either musical, programmatic, or conceptual);

b)      be a new work not previously performed or published;

c)      be around 6-7 minutes in duration;

d)      require a level of technical ability appropriate for the Guitar Society Orchestra to perform;

e)      Comprise four parts for standard guitars;

3)      The Guitar Society Orchestra reserves the right to perform the premiere of the prize-winning piece.

4)      Awarding of the prize is at the discretion of the adjudicating panel.

5)      The adjudicating panel will consist of the Guitar Society President, Conductor of the Guitar Society Orchestra, and at least one other external expert.

6)      Entrance is free of charge.

7)      Prize: Winner – $1000

Further Details and Competition process

1)      The competition will be announced online www.guitarwa.com.au and at guitar society events.

2)      Applications must be made by email to contactus@guitarwa.com.au by midnight 30 April 2024 and must include a digital copy of the score (as pdf), along with exported sound files (mp3) (or links to these files)

3)      Adjudicating will occur through May-June 2024.

4)      Prize-Winners will be announced at the Guitar Society Orchestra Christmas Concert June 2024

5)      The Guitar Society Orchestra will perform Prize-Winning pieces in concerts commencing in the latter half of 2024.

6)      The finalized score (of the winner) should acknowledge that the work was the winner of the “Duncan Gardiner Memorial Guitar Ensemble Composition Competition” 2024

Further queries can be addressed to the Guitar Society Secretary by email to contactus@guitarwa.com.au