
COMMISSION
How to request the creation of a new work
*I am now only accepting commissions for the 2024-25 season and beyond*
Commissioning a piece can be very rewarding for a musical group. If your mission is to stimulate the creation of new music, this is an obvious step to take - and once the piece is written and performed, the name of your ensemble will travel with it on the score!
Commissioning a piece from me means that you get to have a "Saindon"-style piece, but with your artistic demands at the front and center of the creation.
Before contacting me, please keep the following in mind:
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The fee I charge depends on the length and complexity of the commissioned work (please keep in mind that certain common rates, such as the Canadian League of Composers' rate, is a base minimum that doesn't take all other aspects into consideration);
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My composing calendar is usually booked six to nine months ahead, so it is best to request something nine months to a year prior your desired score delivery date. However, it is possible my agenda frees itself up, so do check in;
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Texts and copyrights are an intricate business. If you have a text to suggest, please keep in mind that if it is not public domain, it will take time to get a copyright license. The copyright shareholder may also charge a fee for said license, if they do accept to release it;
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If you have a topic or a subject in mind as opposed to a specific text, I can do a research and give suggestions. I also work with two lyricists (English and French) who can come up with a tailored text for a fee of 25% of the musical commission fee (i.e. if the choral commission is $2000, the add-on fee for the lyricist will be $500, totalling $2500).
If the project still interests you, please contact me with the following information:
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Date of score delivery;
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Suggested length of the piece;
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Voice distribution (with specifics: divisi or no divisi; a particular noteworthy range that one of your section can pull off that would be nice to highlight; and so on ...);
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Instrumentation, if applicable;
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A description of your vocal ensemble (level, mission, membership - a link to your website, if you have one, will be more than enough for this);
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Text suggestion, concert theme, or a particular writer you have in mind;
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Date, time, and place of the performance.
Please refer to the Contact page to reach me.
